Toi Maori to Perform Whakanoa (Spiritual Cleansing Ceremony) for Vietnam Veterans
Toi Maori Aotearoa Media Release
26 May 2008
In December 2007, Toi Maori was approached by the Vietnam Veterans Association for leadership and advice regarding Maori protocols pertaining to Tribute 08.
The Whakanoa Ceremony will be carried out with live broadcasts from TV1 and will involve ‘te tini me te mano’ (the multitudes) of those who served in Vietnam - families, friends, and the New Zealand Defence Force congregating on Parliament Grounds in Wellington on Saturday 31 May 2008.
He Awhi Tikanga, one of the ten national artform teams that Toi Maori represents, supported this kaupapa and have worked towards bringing together the country’s premier tohunga (ritual experts) and other ensembles from Te Kahui Maunga, the mountain tribe of Ngati Rangi from Ohakune; the Mataatua and Taitokerau Waka groups, under Nga Waka Federation; with the support of local iwi of Te Atiawa, Ngati Toa, Ngati Raukawa and other iwi who live in the Wellington region.
Toi Maori, in partnership with the Vietnam Veterans Association, is proud to represent the nation and deliver this prestigious event in formally welcoming our veterans who served and died in Vietnam.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Tamahou Temara, Operations Manager
Toi Maori Aotearoa
Phone (04) 801-7914
Cell: 021 357 894
Email: tamahou@maoriart.org.nz
For more information on Tribute 08 and the Vietnam Veterans, please visit the Tribute 08 website.