Hoea Cultral event a hit!

More than 200 enthusiastic participants of the 2nd Asia-Pacific Outgames had a taste of an evening filled with rich Maori and Pacific Island cultures at Te Whare Waka o Poneke, the new Canoe House on Wellington’s waterfront on Thursday evening, 17 March.

Hoea! Te Waka ki Uta, Te Waka ki Tai!, brought people from all over together wanting to be a part of an unforgettable experience; to have a taste of Maori and Pacific culture and entertainment.

Mr Kevin Haunui, who led the team that coordinated this event, said the vision was to showcase Maori and Pacific culture through food and hospitality; contemporary and traditional entertainment highlighting takatāpui and Pacific fa’afafine entertainers and musicians. 

With a $70 admission fee, guests were treated to a complimentary glass of wine on arrival, followed by a banquet featuring Maori delicacies and traditional and contemporary entertainment from Maori takatāpui and Pacific fa’afafine artists.

Leading the programme was the fierce Nga Taonga Mai Tawhiti Kapa Haka, who stunned the crowd with their high standard of cultural performance. Followed by Hinemoana Baker and Ramon Te Wake with a selection of powerful and heart rendering compositions. 

The energy increased with the young Maori takatāpui contemporary group, the Manu Dolls with a more daring and provocative drag performance of their rendition of Beyonce meets RuPaul.

Former Miss Tongan Galaxy 2004-2005 winner and professional Polynesian dancer, Miss Phylesha Brown-Acton wowed the crowd in her lovely performance of the hula, with slow and stimulating hip movements that left the audience in awe.

Popular fa’afafine impersonator and show girl, Cindy of Samoa proved once again why she was the finalist of the 1998 New Zealand reality show Stars in their Eyes, by performing her iconic Tina Turner, Shirley Bassey and Celine Dion routines.

The most fabulous and ferociously funny drag queen divas Buckwheat, Tess Tickle and Venus ManTrap together with Cindy of Samoa wrapped-up the night with glittering diamonds and splendid costumes, giving everyone an A-class drag performance.

Rangimoana Taylor led a talented group of MC’s that included Ramon Te Wake, Elizabeth Kerekere and Miss Ribena as each took turns on the stage.

Among the crowd were movers and shakers of takatāpui, presidents of various Pacific fa’afafine organisations and even included members of sporting teams from other parts of the world.

More than 200 enthusiastic participants of the 2nd Asia-Pacific Outgames had a taste of an evening filled with rich Maori and Pacific Island cultures at Te Whare Waka o Poneke, the new Canoe House on Wellington’s waterfront on Thursday evening, 17 March.

Chairman of Pacific Sexual Diversity Network and President of Tongan Leiti Association, Ms Joleen ‘Joey’ Mataele, said “it was a beautiful and well organised event and a fabulous opportunity to showcase Pacific and Maori culture to people from other countries, offering a real life experience of what it is that makes the Pacific so special”.

Mr Haunui said for many participants from the2^nd Asia-Pacific Outgames was topped-off though events like these. People get to have a taste of the Maori and Pacific cultures and a chance to learn more about what makes Aotearoa such a melting pot. “Our vision for the event was that it would be a showcase of Maori and Pacific entertainment of the highest standard we could provide, and that it would also be organised and delivered by our own community for our own people”.

The vision was certainly a hit and many were excited to be part of an event which brings so many different people together.

Special acknowledgement goes to the takatāpui community in Wellington in staging this event, in particular Kevin Haunui, Maihi Makiha, Angie Enoka, Adrian Wharerau, Adam Dehaar and Peri and Karen Te Wao; and also the support received from around the country in tautoko and kaimoana.

Hoea! It was an unforgettable experience!