Maori Clubs

A Maori Club in London In 1961, when the film The Castaways was made, all the Maoris that could be found in London were asked to be ‘extras’. Once they had all met up they decided that they would like to keep contact with each other and so a Maori Club was formed in London. Today, six years later, the club is still active and besides being a social meeting point the Aotearoa Maori Club gives many performances—under the strict control of the leader, Sam Karetu. There are still two original members in the group: Margaret Smith of Kaikohe and Luie Tawhai (now Mrs Thyne) of Rotorua. Of course members come and go as New Zealanders make a trip overseas and return home again; some of the members now back in New Zealand are Winnie Waapu (now Mrs Salmon) of Hastings, Cini Boynton of Waimana (now Mrs Hapi living in Gisborne), Marie Morehu of Taupo, Agnes and John Manunui of Wellington, and Aroha North (now Mrs Fitzpatrick) a Pakeha from Te Whaiti. Present members are Sam Karetu of Hastings; Tom Russell of Hastings; Lindsay Hounsell, a Pakeha from Auckland who was previously with Arapeta Awatere's Maranga Club: Freer Crawford, a Pakeha guitarist from Rotorua; Hemi Wiremu from Kaitaia; Phyllis Komene from New Plymouth; Gwen Clarke (now Mrs le Marquand) from Hastings; Rena Tawhai (Mrs Pohe) from Kaitaia; and the original members Margaret Smith and Luie Tawhai. The club gives concerts, provides the cabaret at balls, has appeared on television and has been invited to appear at the end of this year at the official farewell in London to Sir Arthur Porritt, Governor General-designate of New Zealand. Club members practise hard for their concerts: members meet most Tuesdays at Sam Karetu's flat in Chelsea in London, where they rehearse and gossip and drink innumerable cups of tea! The photograph was taken at one of the latest appearances of the Maori Club. Garth Clarke, a New Zealander who was a finals student at the London School of Television

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