Early Childhood Convention 1983 24-28 August

Tu Tangata, Issue 9, 1 December 1982, Page 43

Early Childhood Convention 1983 24-28 August

Planning and organisation is now well under way for this Convention 1983. The deadline for registration is 30 June 1983 with rebates for early registration. Papers: The deadline for those submitting papers is 31 December 1982. Please forward details, author and synopsis before then. Venue: The venue is now Turangawaewae Marae with a spill off into the Ngaruawahia High School. The Committee feels that this will emphasise the spirit and thrust of the whole Convention as typified by the whakatauka ‘kahikatea tu i te uru’. Enquiries: Early Childhood Convention, P.O. Box 4271, HAMILTON EAST.

For the 40-strong ‘Maori of N.Z. Group’ performing at the closing ceremony of the Brisbane Corn-

monwealth Games was the high point of the Commonwealth Festival of Arts. But for the cultural coordinator, Wiremu Kerekere the hard work building to this point started in May, when he was asked by the N.Z. Government to get a representative group together. At that time, Bill said, it seemed a big job, especially as cost reasons ruled out taking a New Zealand concert party to Brisbane. It was decided instead to use expatriate Maori living in the Brisbane area and train them to concert standard. _ This meant a first trip to Brisbane to audition members and find leaders amongst the five thousand Maori living in Brisbane. Bill says he was very lucky to find two able leaders, Linda Morrisen and Paraire Huata. Then it was back to New Zealand for Bill to sort out finances and collect his daughter Ata, then with her able assistance return to Australia to get in-

to practice in earnest. Bill says he was looking to provide not just traditional Maori song and dance, but also dramatic pieces to involve audiences. In this he was ably supported by Paraire Huata and other party members who acted out legends such as the fishing song ‘Karu’. Taiaha

fighting on-stage was also used to grip audiences and Wiremu says the death scene of one of the warriors never fail-

ed to make an impact. By the end of rehearsal the concert party had 40 items and two weeks ahead of them of performances, most every day and sometimes twice daily. The venues ranged from Festival Balls in plush banquet halls, to outdoor performances in city malls, but throughout a high standard was maintained, says Wiremu. In fact this was recognised not only in being asked to perform an extra week of concerts during the Com . monwealth Games, but also in invitations for the leaders , 0 dine at the royal dinners for Queen Elizabeth an( p r j nce Philip, ’ . , ~f. conce^ t out a traditional welcome to Mr Muldoon and r Ekghet w en they visited the aaias ’ as as entertaining games athletes at the games village, From initial doubts that the high

standard required would not be met, Wiremu Kerekere said he saw the group maintain a level of proficiency equal with the top six cultural groups in New Zealand. He hopes that the impetus will be maintained especially now that Brisbane Maori have a new marae to centre themselves around.