Clean sweep for Ruapehu Juniors

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 381, 9 April 1991, Page 3

Clean sweep for Ruapehu Juniors

The Ruapehu Juniors naade a clean sweep of the junior cultural competitions on the Saturday evening of the Easter Hui Aranga. They won the action song, poi, haka and came first equal with Te Roopu O Te Whitu in the Kaea Haka Leader.

The whaikorero competitions were held on Friday morning with Ruapehu's Mere Mareikura coming first in the junior women, Vaughan Poutawera second in the junior men and Lala Mareikura third

in the senior women. The midget cultural competitions were held on the Friday night followed by the choirs and sacred solos making a late finish for the evening. Saturday's ac-

tivities started with a sports parade and then teams went on to play rugby, netball tennis and table tennnis. It took until dark to finish all the games. A 'Ceremony of Light' service was held in the evening before the Maungarongo Marae Te Kohunga Reo presented three plays in Maori. They were Little Red Hen, Rona' and

Goldilocks and the Three Bears. These were greatly appreciated by the large audience. The junior cultural competitions followed. On Sunday morning the Hui Rangatahi gave the youth a chance to get together and talk. The Central Council also had their meeting. Sunday's Mass was the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and was an inter-

donominational service with Bishop Takuira officiating. A new type of liturgy was used throughout the services moving from the old Maori to the New Testament and the present day. The singing was the highlight of the service. The Hakari (feast) was held for Sunday's midday meal. During the day eliminations for a religious quiz took place with the competitions in the evening. The evening wound up with a disco at which there were a surprising number of older people, many of whom were impressed with the technology being used. This vear's hui was a

hi-tech affair, the first time there has been as much sound and lighting equipment used as well as the big screen video so that people at the back of the marquee could see what was happening on stage. Ruapehu came runnersup to St Peter Chanel in the aggregate trophy for the team with the most points in the mainly religious aspects of the hui, these being the choir, sacred solo, oratory, quiz and religious procession. The Hui finished on

Monday morning with the handing over of the Hui Aranga Statue to Tauranga, the 1992 management committee. Organisers say that they have been overwhelmed by the support from so many people throughout the region. A service attended by about 150 people was held at the Maungarongo Marae on Thurday night to give thanks for the Hui Aranga. The feeling now that the hui is over is 'tired but contented' according to Matui Mareikura.