MAORI CONCERT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 725, 28 December 1933, Page 6

MAORI CONCERT

SPLENDID ENTERTAINMENT GIVEN IN TOWN SQUARE PREPARATION OF HANGI The members of the Touhourangi sub-tribe (Whakarewarewa) acquitted themselves excellently yesterday and last night when they provided really excellent entertainment in the town square. The fame of these Maori entertainers has undoubtedly gone before them in many cases, but despite this, their programme lacked nothing in novelty and eharm. Considerable interest was taken in the cooking of food under open air conditions in the native ovens, the fencing off of the cooking area preventing the overcrowding which in-t-erfered with the exhibition last year. The concert given from the square platform repeated the success scored the previous year when it was undoubtedly one of the outstanding events of the carnival programme. The green raupo lined stage with the long lines of coloured lights passing above the heads of the crowd made a pictnresque setting for the red uniforms of the poi girls and the swaying piu-pius. As an introduction to the programme, Chief Mita Taupopoki, through an interpreter extended a native welcome to the visitors and this was fittingly followed by a reproduction of the native ceremony of welcoming neweomers. The various types of poi dances, action songs, hakas, together with solo items by the famous Maori soprano, Ana Hato, given with very lively vim and musical and artistic ability made up an entirely Maori and very entertaining programme which was excellently received by the audience. Light showers of rain threatened unpleasantness during the evening, but fortunately this did not materialise and the crowd maintained its numbers throughdut the programme.