Page 8 - 1978 News Clippings

VISIT BY CULTURAL GROUP A SUCCESS

6th September 1978 by the late Inia Te Wiata, a Maori song dedicated to
With little recognition but was finally completed the city of Aberdeen.
to their country, these by his two sons Bill and “The city fathers
young people have really Inia. It was a very moving thoroughly appreciated
made their mark overseas. moment for Bill and Inia this and expressed their
Their first concert after and three grandchildren, delight at the civic function
leaving New Zealand was who are all members of which followed.”
in Disneyland, where, this party, to see his In reports to Radio
before an audience of wonderful carving on Waikato from Mr D.
100,000 people they were display at N.Z. House. Braithwaite, listeners have
acclaimed as truly worthy A letter from Mr N. heard of the acclaim with
ambassadors for New Murphy, the Principal of which the group has been
Zealand. Ngaruawahia High School, received throughout the
On to London where who is travelling with the country. As one Scottish
their second overseas group, reports August 8, newspaper reports “The
performance took place at “today has been the official Ngaruawahia High School
the Fulcrum Arts Centre in opening of the Festival. We Maori Cultural Group
Slough before a capacity took part in a street parade knocked the Aberdeen
audience, many people behind a Highland Band. audience dead!”
being turned away at the The group were dressed in The schedule of
door. After the the official tour uniform, performances for the rest
presentation, officials of loudly singing Maori of the tour is very heavy
the International Festival songs, with the boys and many of the group are
of Youth Orchestras and gesticulating, and the finding, with all the
Performing Arts told the reaction of the large travelling, very little time
leaders of the group that crowds in the Aberdeen is left for catching up with
their performance would streets was positive joy. mail home. Due back on
be the highlight of the Inside the hall all September 6, it is a
Aberdeen Festival. participating groups certainty they will all be
Whilst in London, the assembled and a massed very tired but happy in the
group were the guests of choir and orchestra played knowledge that from a
the High Commissioner for and sang the national song very small community,
New Zealand at New of countries as far apart as they have proved excellent
Zealand House and were Bermuda and Japan. Our representatives of New
shown the “Pouihi” which group followed “God Zealand.
had been almost completed Defend New Zealand” with

Here is the list of the 34 members of the 1977 Maori Culture group

that were invited to the event in Aberdeen in 1978:

T. Turner, K. Te Wiata. L. Nepia, T. Katipa, J. Roberts, R. Morgan, A. Moeke, S. Muru,
D. Te Hiwi, M. Cooper, M. Hopa, A. Tairakena, J. Loveridge, P. Poutapu, B. Pompey,
C. Katipa, H. Katipa, A. Ryan, K. Te Wiata, D. Parata, P. Henry, M. Dixon, J. Perou,

M. Te Wiata, D. Wharekura & J. Mahara.