Marae Visit, 1983

By LUCY RAKETE
Times Correspondent


MAORITANGA and Bowie-mania got to know each other better at a historic meeting on the Ngatu Toa marae at Porirua this week.

David Bowie, currently at the end of a world tour, requested the visit to the marae because he wanted to see a carved meeting house and meet Maori people.

He got much more than that, with a traditional welcome from more than 300 Porirua fans of all ages.





And an added bonus for the many Bowie fans was a special song called 'Waiata', written by Bowie for the occasion, that went down well.

Ngati Toa elder Horata Solomon said the request was a complete surprise. "We didn't seek him out, he just came to us - but we knew this must be significant for our people".

Another elder, Puahou Katene, was called on to brief Bowie in his hotel room before the welcome. "I didn't like his music because I couldn't understand it. But now I've changed my mind."

"David was very sincere, and had a great impact on the kids."





Puahou admits that some of the elders who considered the request hadn't heard of Bowie or his music, and wondered why the Osmonds hadn't been invited. "I don't think the committee realised how big this man was. They thought he was just a pop star. But after seeing what it's done for our kids, we now know what he means to our kids."





Puahou said Bowie had already done some swotting up on Maori culture, and was aware of the sacredness of the occasion. "He asked about what we do, what to wear and especially when he'd get a chance to sing his song."

"I told him we'd cover him in the formal aspects, and his chance to sing would come once inside the house, Toa Rangatira."





"David wanted to know about the significance of the carvings in the meeting house, so I gave him an explanatory booket about them in the briefing."

The welcoming ceremony went almost without a hitch, except for the comission of the traditional hongi because the kids swarmed onto the marse after the speeches.

But the enthusiasm of the young and not so young fans really made the night.

Local school children had been told about the visitor earlier in the week, but had been sworn to secrecy, because the olders were worried it might get out of hand.

However, a very efficient "bush telegraph" saw a full turnout on the night.





Harata Solomon said the young people were the real hosts. "The boys performed the haka, one of them did the challenge, my daughter replied to the karanga."

Bowie said he was very honoured to be in the meeting house, and it stood out to be one of the most hospitable experiences of his life.