item together and not chime in as the item progresses.

Soloists When soloists are performing, the audience will concentrate on them. If other performers are to remain, they should withdraw to the rear of the stage or marae and sit down and not talk amongst themselves. Soloists must stand where they can be clearly seen by all sections of the audience and to this end they should stand as near the front of the stage as possible and to the centre. This is not intended to be an exhaustive discourse on stage technique. I will finish with a list of dos and don'ts which highlight some of the most common faults seen in recent performances of Maori items.

Some ‘Don'ts’ DON'T peek at your audience around the curtain before the show begins. This looks very amateurish. DON'T talk to one another and make private jokes whilst the compere or a soloist is the centre of attraction. DON'T keep looking off-stage and talking or gesticulating to people out of sight of the audience. It is irritating and distracting. DON'T look at the ceiling or the floor. Follow the actions with the eyes during action songs, otherwise look at the audience. You are singing for them. DON'T be afraid to smile at the audience. Look as if you enjoy entertaining them, BUT DON'T grin during hakas—look fierce and proud. DON'T put greasepaint tattoo on the performers’ faces. It is rarely done properly, it always looks artificial, and as the Maoris are a handsome race, it spoils the attractiveness of the individual features. DON'T (men only) wear multi-coloured shorts or bathing trunks underneath your piupiu. Shorts should be as brief as possible and all the one colour. Good costuming is often spoiled by neglect of this point. DON'T wear European ornaments with traditional costume. DON'T have children wandering around the stage with parents (seen far too often). DON'T intermix Maori and European items.

Some ‘Dos’ DO start your concert on time. There is NO such thing as ‘Maori time’ when the audience is waiting. Maori concert groups are ambassadors to their race. The audience are their guests. It is bad manners to keep guests waiting. DO ensure that everyone knows the item properly before performing it, otherwise delete it from the programme. DO remember that the success of any concert is in direct proportion to the amount of preparation and care put into its rehearsal. An intelligently explained well-executed concert promotes interest in, and appreciation of, things Maori and therefore is yet another way of engendering better relations and understanding between Maori and Pakeha in New Zealand.

Available everywhere… OXFORD ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY 62/6 N.Z. More than just a dictionary — almost a one volume encyclopaedia! …of all good booksellers… OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS WELLINGTON