MAORIS TO HOLD CELEBRATIONS ON SEPTEMBER 23

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 29, 3 May 1950, Page 5

MAORIS TO HOLD CELEBRATIONS ON SEPTEMBER 23

The celebrations to mark the 600tb anniversary of the arrival of the Matatua canoe to Whakatane are to be held on September 22 and 23 of this year, Friday and Saturday. This was decided by a committee set up to investigate dates at a meeting at Whakatane last week. The celebrations will be attended by Maoris from all over New Zealand and are to be held on the marae of the Wairaka Pa. At present invitations are being sent to well known Maori representatives in all districts. A sketch programme of the proposed function has been drawn up and will be enlarged upon and improved between now and September.

It is planned that all the visitors will arrive at Whakatane and gather on Friday, September 22. The official welcome will be' held late in the afternoon when most of the parties have arrived. The following day the official ceremony will be held at 10.30 a.m. and will include speeches by well known dignatories, Maori and Pakeha. This will be followed by the first of the various haka and poi dance teams competing in a competition, which it is planned to hold between all the ■visiting tribes. On the Saturday afternoon afootball team representing the Matatua ■district will play a Maori team from North Auckland at Whakatane. The poi and haka competitions will be continued in the evening. On Sunday all parties will disperse.