Ngati Poneke Young Maori Club Wellington

The club is interdenominational, and all persons interested are cordially invited to come along to any of the practice evenings.

The club, a branch of the Ngati Poneke Association, has been in existence without a break since 1936. Meetings are held every Monday evening from 8.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. in its clubrooms in the Hotel Cecil Buildings, Lambton Quay. Members practice choir work, action songs, poi and haka, and stick games. During the evening supper is served.

The club is most active in entertaining different groups and organisations, and performs publicly in aid of a wide variety of worthy causes, as it is felt that such performances can do much to further mutual under-standing, both cultural and social, between Maori and Pakeha.

In the Wellington Competitions Society Festival this year, Ngati Poneke won the £100 first prize in the ‘Dominion’ Maori Choir Contest and was placed second in the action song section. At last October's Coronation Celebrations at Ngaruawahia, the club won the modern choir contest.

During the past year other activities have included several interesting talks on Maori subjects by the Rev. K. Ihaka, and a number of instructional talks on the Maori language by Mr R. Bristowe.

Altogether, the club's busy programme for the past year included 25 concerts, 25 other functions, and attendance at the weddings of four members and former members.

Recently the club received a grant of £150 from the Maori Purposes Fund Board to assist in the purchase of new piupiu.

Committee members: Mr F. B. Katene (president), Mr D. T. Manunui (vice-president), Mr W. C. Nathan (secretary), Mrs M. Thompson (treasurer), Mrs J. Ferris, Mrs L. Nikora, Miss J. Albert, Mr K. Nikora, Mr W. Gray, Mr B. Hammond, Mr M. Taylor. Men's leader: Mr D. T. Manunui. Women's leader: Mrs C. Kite. Choir conductor: Mr B. Rourangi.

Address for correspondence: The Secretary, P.O. Box 3674, Wellington.