DANCING OF MAORIS INTRIGUES DUTCHMAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 365, 28 May 1928, Page 16

DANCING OF MAORIS INTRIGUES DUTCHMAN

MODEL VILLAGE INSPECTED In the six years that Mr. Jan Hendrik Rogge, the Dutch-Ameri-can journalist, has been touring the world in the interests of a Holland -Java syndicate of newspapers, and for American journals, he has never seen native dancing equal to that which he witnessed yesterday at Ngaruawahia. “I have seen dancing by the native people in most of the countries of the world, but for sheer artistry I feel I must hand the palm to the Maori people,” said Mr. Rogge, on his return to Auckland. He was particularly interested in the pois. Through the courtesy of the Princess e Puea Herangi, Mr. Rogge was able to view a display of special poi dances which are only danced by the people of the Waikato. He also saw a series of hakas and chants, which few strangers to this part of the world lire permitted to witness. Mr. Rogge is particularly interested in the folk dances and music of the Maori people, and this was one of the reasons of his visit to this country. “It was extraordinary to find such a splendid work as that originated by To Puea in her ancestral home, organised entirely by a woman. It is remarkable, too, to find that it has been financed and supported entirely by the Maori people themselves. I was more than surprised to find what had been accomplished in erecting this model village, and desire to congratulate her very sincerely.” Mr. Rogge said that if the Princess visited the United Sttaes with her performers he believed that she would raise sufficient money to put her work on a sound basis financially.

It is his intention when he returns to America to bring it under the notice of certain persons who. he feels certain, would be interested in what Te Puea is doing for her native people. Before his departure, the chieftainess placed a valuable kaka feather mat around the shoulders of the visitor, with the remark: “I want you to carry

away something to remind you of your visit to the Maori people.” Mr. Rogge expressed his grateful thanks to the Princess, and to Mr. Phil Hayward, of Fuller-Hayward Theatres, by whose courtesy he was

enabled to make a flying visit to the Waikato. He will leave for Honolulu by the Aorangi on June 5.