Mr A. G. Spratt, a Tauranga county councillor, welcomed the islanders on behalf of the Tauranga county. Other speakers were Mr S. Mitchell, Maori Welfare Officer, Rotorua, Mr H. Potaka, a member of the local marae committee, and Mr Wi Hapi, a local elder. On behalf of the Tokelau Islanders, Mr John Rangihau said that in the past week they had seen things they had never seen before, and he was surprised how quickly they had adjusted. Mr Iuliano Tulafona, as spokesman for the islanders, thanked both Maori and European for the warmth of their welcome, and said how pleased they were to be able to come. Both the Maoris and the Tokelauans presented musical items during the ceremony, and after the evening meal the visitors were entertained at a concert, again reciprocating with many of their own traditional items. The following day, after sleeping at Whakaue meeting house, the families were taken by a Forestry bus to Rotoehu, where the whole community gave them a tremendous welcome. School children (mostly pakeha) in traditional dress. Forestry workers, Tokelauan boys from Waipa, Fijian junior woodsmen stationed at Rotoehu, all joined in a day of entertainment and festivity. The school sports and gala were The Tokelauan families and the welcoming party on the verandah of the meeting house at Maketu National Publicity Studios photographs. At the Rotoehu welcome held and at a Christmas party Santa Claus gave gifts to the eleven children in the three families. League members in the Auckland, Maketu and Rotoehu districts deserve praise for the willing effort they put in to make these new neighbours welcome.