Page 3 - 1978 News Clippings

MAORIS MAKE IT A

FAMILY AFFAIR

Evening Express, 12th August 1978

The festival is very much a family
affair for the Te Wiata’s of the

Ngaruawahia High School Maori
Group.
On stage are brothers Maiaia (16)
and Kani (17) with their sister Kim
(15), who each joined the group when
they started at the high school.
Watching from the wings is their
father Bill Te Wiata, who was
chairman of the Maori Supporters’

Committee which raised some of the
money needed to finance the group.
And behind the scenes is their
uncle, scenic designer and stage
manager Inia Te Wiata, the man
responsible for the magnificent mock
Maori meeting-house which is the
backdrop for the group’s shows.

The meeting house closely
resembles the original with authentic
traditional figures carved from
polystyrene and painted to look like
the traditional totara wood.
Bill and Inia Te Wiata are sons of
the late Inia Te Wiata, the renowned
New Zealand operatic bass.
When he died their father left an

unfinished carving in London which,
at the request of his master carver, was
brought back to New Zealand and
completed by his sons Bill and Inia.
The carving is now on display in ABOVE: The Te Wiata family, Bill
London’s New Zealand House. (left) and Inia standing, and Kani (top),
Kim (centre) and Manaia (bottom) at the
door of the Maori meeting house de-
signed by Inia.