Billy Rourangi directs an evening rehearsal of the Ngatiponeke concert party. THE NGATIPONEKE YOUNG MAORI CLUB by J. C. Sturm The Maori scroll designs decorating the entrance to Ngatiponeke hall at the bottom of Lambton Quay are something of a landmark in Wellington, and I think that the majority of the Maoris who live in the city or pass through it pay a visit to the hall for some reason or other. Although the hall is not, strictly speaking, a meetinghouse, it serves the same purpose and has become the recognised centre of Maori activities in the capital. Photography: Charles Hale In 1936 a group of young Maori girls came to Wellington from different parts of the country to make the tukutuku panels for a meetinghouse being built near Waitara in memory of Sir Maui Pomare. These girls worked under the direction of Sir Apirana Ngata, who, with the help of Mr Kingi Tahiwi, senior, and Mrs Heketa, organised and trained a concert party to give a concert to raise funds for the Pomare memorial ceremony which was held at the opening of the meetinghouse. This party named Ngatiponeke by Sir Apirana Ngata, delivered the tukutuku panels a few days before the opening and then took part in the competitions at the big hui that followed. Meanwhile, Lady Pomare and the members of her Welfare Committee were becoming more and more concerned about the young Maoris who had come to make their way in the city. Early in 1937 they decided to form a club, with the 1936 concert party and its leaders as a nucleus, to try and keep the young people off the streets and to arouse their interests in Maori culture. And so in 1937 the Ngatiponeke Young Maori Club came into existence and began its regular Monday night practices. Undoubtedly the Club owes everything to Mr Kingi Tahiwi, senior, Mr Henry Tahiwi, and Mrs Heketa. It suffered a great loss when these leaders passed away, but their influence is still felt, and the standard of work they aimed at remains the goal of the Club to-day. Mr Fred Katene, well-known in Wellington for his, welfare work among the young Maoris in the city, at-