Ruapehu does well at Hui

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 531, 12 April 1994, Page 6

Ruapehu does well at Hui

Performers from Maungarongo Marae who travelled to Hastings for the annual Easter Hui Aranga were well rewarded for their skill and professionalism with a string of wins and placings in the competition. The 200-strong group were welcomed onto the grounds , of Karamu High School in Hastings on Good Friday. Hosts of this year's Hui were the Kahungunu Tribe. Between 1500-1900 people from nine North Island clubs made it to this year' s event, down on previous years. In the speech-making competition, Pikimai Mareikura was placed first equal for her whaikorero (Maori oratory) in the junior women' s division. Michael Hemara in the junior men's event was unplaced. Che Wilson, one of the youngest speakers in the senior men's division won the competition convincingly. Deana Wilson was unplaced among the senior women. This year's standard of competition in the midget division was extremely high and to the Ruapehu club's distinction the youngsters were placed one point behind the winners (Tauranga), in the action song and poi. The group also managed a third placing in the haka. The junior concert party team were unlucky not to take first placing in the action songs After an admirable effort the team lost the trophy they have held for eight years to Tauranga, and had to settle for runner-up. They later went on to win the poi event over some very strong Competition. Ruapehu' s talented choir won on the Friday night. Ngawai Akapita was placed second in the sacred solo. The club cleaned up in the rugby on Saturday and made it a hat trick with Aroha Clarkin-Mareikura taking the women' s table tennis competition later in the day.