MAORI LIFE AND MUSIC

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 19, 25 November 1927, Page 14

MAORI LIFE AND MUSIC

UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT RELAY FROM OTAKI COLLEGE. December will be ushered: in with a unique and most attrac. — tive railio entertainment-the 'relay of a concert to be presented at the Maori College at Otaki. This college-claims to be the oldest of the present existing schools of New Zealand. In the year 1840 a young mispionary, Hadfield (afterwards Bishop Hadfield) landed at Otaki and established a mission, and a mission school. (the school has had a continuous existence from that time, and is still doing very good work amongst the Ngatiraukawa trible of the district. Amongst the early teachers of the school may be mentioned Archdeacon Samuel Williams, who afterwards, on the invitation of Sir George Grey, left for Hawke’s Bay to establish that great school for Maori boys, Te Aute College. . Th...earliest record of the deeds of the school’s old boys goes back to the Maori war iu the ‘Tauranga district. Henare Taratoa, although fighting against the Queen, had been so impressed with the teaching he had received that he stole ont of the pa at night, through the British sentries and forces and back again, to bring water -for.a wounded English soldier who had fallen at the entrance to the stockade A memorial tablet exists to his memory in Lichfield Cathedral, put there by Bishop Selwyn. The school will be assisted in their concert by members of the Old Boys and Girls’ Association, All taking part have at one time or other been scholars at the school. ‘the first quarter of an hour is being devoted to the old style of Maori entertainment. Visitors arrive and the *‘powhiri,’"? or dance, of welcome will be given. A speech of welcome and a song or "patere," will follow. The visitors will reply with a different kind of song-a ‘‘waiata."’ A haka will conclude the item. In the "patere’’ and *waiata’ will be heard the ancient music of the Maori, restricted in range, but rich in half and quarter tones. ‘Ibis section is arranged by Messrs, Rehua and P. Rikihana and Mrs. U. Taipua. he school will sing several of the more modern Maori songs, and a number of boys, mostly Cook Islanders, will give instrumental items. Of the individual singers members of the Tahiwi family are the most prominent. Miss Weno Tahiwi, who sings *‘Home, Little Maori, Home,’ is a membet of the scliool staff as is also Mr. P. ahiwi, who sings *‘Waiata Poi." Mrs. Roiri, who sings "Ah! Though the Silver Moon were Mite," is a member of the same family, and so also is Mr. Kingi Tahiwi (tenor). The last-named is the chief interpreter of the Govern- © agentes

ment Native Department in Wellington. The above-mentioned singers, together with H. Mahima, who sings "Homing," are all very well known locally, and in Rotorua, where they were connected with the choir and with concert work ' Ali the others taking part are members of the School which has taken upon itself the duty "of preserving the Maori language dances, arts, and games.