Kia Ora from San Francisco!

An update from Moerangi Vercoe (Creative NZ) in San Francisco - 2005-08-04

It has been an emotionally packed day for our artists
and officials in San Francisco for the Maori Arts Meets America event.

It started this morning at dawn with the waka ceremony.
What a privilege it was to be welcomed by the Native American Ohlone tribe - the tangata whenua of San Francisco, who rowed out in their reed waka to meet the
Nga Puhi and Ngati Awa warriors aboard Te Ika a Maui.

Image: A member of the Maori contingent is greeted by an elder of the Ohone people, tangata whenua of San Francisco.Kia Ora from San Francisco!

An update from Moerangi Vercoe (Creative NZ) in San Francisco - 2005-08-04

It has been an emotionally packed day for our artists
and officials in San Francisco for the Maori Arts Meets America event.

It started this morning at dawn with the waka ceremony.
What a privilege it was to be welcomed by the Native American Ohlone tribe - the tangata whenua of San Francisco, who rowed out in their reed waka to meet the
Nga Puhi and Ngati Awa warriors aboard Te Ika a Maui.

Image: A member of the Maori contingent is greeted by an elder of the Ohone people, tangata whenua of San Francisco.

The waka carried a special gift to the people of San Francisco, a fine cloak made of harakeke woven by some of our finest weavers from throughout the ropu. It was presented by Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu to a representative from San Francisco City. The Ohlone people were then joined by representatives from other Californian first nations people and we embraced each other's cultures.

Later on, Te Arikinui opened Toi Maori - Art from the Maori people of New Zealand at the Yerba Buena Centre.

Again, our Ohlone friends had gathered to support us. Many other artists friends from across the USA and Canada who we have met and worked with over the years have also travelled to San Francisco to be with us during this special time.

The exhibition looks fantastic. Anyone who is lucky enough to see it will be so proud of our Maori artists
- there were audible gasps as people walked into the
exhibition space. The time we had to put the exhibition up was incredibly limited so several people put in some intense hours to make it look as wonderful as possible. Nga mihi nui ki a koutou.

The day was especially poignant for our weavers, for this exhibition is the start of a long USA tour for Te Aho Mutunga Kore, the Eternal Thread. Many of you have been lucky enough to see this exhibition at Pataka and in Rotorua and Auckland. Now it is time for Americans to experience the beauty of Maori weaving both traditional and contemporary styles. We know already that the basket weaving community in California is buzzing about the presence of the Maori
weavers the Yerba Buena Centre and many are travelling
great distances to work with us during the 10 days the
exhibition is open to the public. There will also be
demonstrations of Ta Moko, clay and carving during the
exhibition.

Te Puia Kapa Haka group performed outside the Yerba
Buena Centre to an enthusiastic lunchtime crowd and
they were followed by our waka boys demonstrating mau
rakau and other weaponary drills. These concerts will
continue over the next two days.