Manaia bring Māori culture to giant rugby ball
14 Nov 2008
Māori performance artists Manaia will help animate New Zealand's giant Rugby Ball during its London season with their music and culture, including haka workshops for British school children.
Potters Fields Park - beside London's famous Tower Bridge - is set to become a piece of New Zealand from November 25 where visitors to the huge inflatable ball will be able to take a virtual tour of New Zealand and immerse themselves in the Kiwi culture.
Opening ceremony
The London-based Māori performing arts group will perform with NZ opera singer Elizabeth Marvelly, and haka with local school children as part of the opening ceremony in front of London's Mayor Boris Johnson.
On December 2, the cultural troupe will welcome IRB officials and international rugby captains to the Rugby Ball with a powhiri (traditional Māori welcome) at a function announcing the pool draw for the 2011 Rugby World Cup which is to be held in New Zealand.
As well as official welcomes, Manaia will give regular daily performances and workshops educating the public on Māori culture.
Welcome explained
The powhiri is a central part of Māori protocol where visitors are welcomed on to 'marae', the sacred space or courtyard, usually in front of traditional meeting houses.
Powhiri involves two groups coming together, negotiating the terms of their engagement and finishing with guests joining their hosts as one. It is a spiritual or religious journey where gods, heaven and earth are acknowledged, ancestors remembered and kinship ties reinforced. It is also when intentions are ascertained, issues debated and lobbying carried out.
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby Ball powhiri welcoming dignitaries to the Rugby Cup pool draw will be televised throughout the world.
As it's considered an important occasion, dignitaries will be challenged on their arrival by Manaia warriors wielding traditional 'taiaha' or long wooden clubs. The warriors will approach the group, placing an offering (usually a small leafy branch) in front of them. As confirmation of their peaceful intentions, the visitors' representative will pick up the offering and acknowledge the welcoming party.
The karanga, the traditional call of the women, and the haka of welcome will ring out across the Thames River as the group moves on to the marae.
The haka Utaina symbolises the hauling of a canoe onto shore with its cargo and treasures - in this case the special guests coming to the Rugby Ball. After speeches and songs of welcome, the powhiri will be completed with hongi.
Māori protocol
For the hongi, the groups cross the intervening space for the individuals to shake hands, touch foreheads and press noses together - a very personal acknowledgment, one-to-one with an intermingling of the breath of life.
Māori culture encompasses ideologies that are pertinent to today's world, such as whanaungatanga - the importance of people and relationships, kaitiakitanga - sustainability, and whakapapa - the relationship of individuals to each other and the environment.
Welcoming IRB dignitaries in this time-honoured tradition means these ideologies will be given expression in London, one of the world's great cities.
During the week November 26 - December 2, Manaia will be holding workshops and public performances with an aim to build further understanding of New Zealand and create stronger spirit and unity within international culture.
Video news release: Giant Rugby Ball Scores Another Famous Landmark
Backgrounders:
Māori Culture and New Zealand today
Giant Rugby Ball takes up London post
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
|
|
Other Sites
|
| • |
Manaia Maori Performing Arts London
Manaia is a 100% Maori owned and operated London based company, which specialises in providing professional Maori performing arts services and Maori cultural knowledge.
|
|
|
|
