Tereora College students will showcase their cultural talents this evening at 6pm at the Te Are Karioi National Auditorium.

Each of Tereora’s anau (houses), Te Kou, Ikurangi, Te Manga, and Maungaroa, will perform a kapa rima (action song), ura pau (drum dance), and ute (chant).

Entry to the event is free for students attending Tereora College. The entry fee for students from other schools is $2, and adults are $10 each. Children three years old and under are admitted free of charge.

Former student and drummer George George was part of the Tereora College cultural team in 1975 that toured Aotearoa New Zealand. He expressed his delight at seeing culture continuing to thrive at the school.

George, along with several other members of the 1975 Tereora College culture team – Papatua Papatua, Agnes Sword Armstrong, and Mary de Luze Hosking – is inviting all former dancers and drummers from the team to a gathering this afternoon at 4.30pm at Vaiana’s Bistro and Bar.

George explains that the brief get-together is to discuss exciting plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their dance group’s performance.

In 1975, the Tereora College culture team was led by the late cultural icon Papa Temaeva Karati, with teachers Pito Maeva, Jill Johnson Vaiimene, and Maara Vaiimene.

The lead drummers were George George, Maki Karati, Member of Parliament Vaitoti Tupa, Araipu Munukoa, and several others.

The dance team included the likes of Ned Howard, Tereapii ‘Kase’ Charlie, Jacob Samson, Tereapii Viking, Member of Parliament Agnes Sword Armstrong, Poko Okotai, and Matakeu Ngaoire Chambers.

“Please come along to our meeting so we can talk over some ideas,” said George.