MAORI HANGI

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 100, 18 December 1931, Page 4

MAORI HANGI

! OLD TIME FEAST— 12 OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS TO SEE METHODS OF COOKING CARNIVAL'S INTERESTING PART Tt is te'n years sifice a true oldtime Maori hangi has been held in Rotorua, but on the fiftb day of the Carnival, Decembei* 28, residents and visitors will be able. to witness this ancient custom carried out in its original manner in the Rotorua town square. At 6.30 p.m. a party of Maoris will prepare the hangis _ ( ovens) , heat the stones, dig the holes and cook pigs, kumeras, potatoes and kouras in the manner of thedr ancestors before the white man came to New Zealand. All these preparations will be carried out to the music of old-time feast chants 'When the hangis are sealed down to cook the food placed in them, the Maoris wili entertaiii the visitors with native hakas. knd dances of wejccSme. Trie party wili cdmm'ence this part of ,the programme at 8 p.m. and there I ara nine ent.ertaining items set down I which include renderings by a Maori

choir and a double quartet Ied by Messrs. T. Morrison,' G. feogers, J. Halcaraia and R. Haupapa. jCombined and long poi dances will also be given besides "several others which will happily pass the time until a'h oue 9.30 p.m. when" the Arawa copc'ert party will take the stage to give a further series of poi dances, hakas, and love and action songs, t . . , About 9.30 the hangis will be op.ened and the kai (food) carved. It will be served in raupo plaited baskets,' 4000 of which are now being prepared for the occasion. • The food will be served to the visitors by 40 Maori. maidens and .the small charge of sixpence will entitle anyone to join the feast. The baskets 'may be kept as souveriirs. The whole setting of the feast will be true to Maori tradition in every detail, the .Maoris entering intq the spirit of the occasion .with enthusiasm and the real carnival spirit; The material „ being .provided for the hangi when put togetjier .is a wierd collection, which includes, stones, bayforks, three.pigs, twq saclcs of kumeras, .two sacks^ of ( "potatoes, arid a quantity of kouras, ahd the whole when finished, according to onfe Maori will make "te kapai feast." ,On this occasion not. only visitors to Rot'oriia, but also many of the residents will see for the first time thejprocess of jhld time Maori bddkihg aiid 'niofeover, they will be able to sample the delicious results.