Aunty Vera's the big star of Matariki
Nobody puts Aunty Vera in the corner. At 92, the veteran performer led her kapa haka group to rapturous applause as they took to the stage at Te Papa yesterday.
Despite being led to a waiting seat while her group performed, Vera Morgan was front and centre during the kaumatua kapa haka to close the museum's Matariki celebrations.
"I didn't want to sit. I just want to be in the flow of people, but they gave me a seat just because I'm old - but I'm quite capable," she said.
Mrs Morgan, who just 18 months ago suffered two strokes, said performing with her community moved her to tears. "It was emotional and beautiful, I just feel like crying. It's joyous - there are so many stories to tell."
She was joined by more than 260 kaumatua who performed at Te Papa to celebrate Matariki.
The average age of participants was in the mid-70s. However, Mrs Morgan's Wellington group, Te Roopu Tahiwi o te Whanganui-a-Tara, averaged in their 80s - partly thanks to her.
"It's amazing to perform with all your heart. It makes such a difference when you're not just uttering the words," she said.
Mrs Morgan stayed in on Saturday night to watch New Zealand heavyweight boxer Shane Cameron compete.
"I love boxing, and rugby, netball - I'm a huge sports fan."
After yesterday's performance, she was treated like a star as she was surrounded by whanau who had come to watch.
"I don't like being treated like a celebrity, just because I'm old ... My grandkids say: 'You're wonderful, Nana."'
Organiser Puti Mackey said Matariki was the perfect time to celebrate leading Maori composers such as Kingi Tahiwi and Tuini Ngawai.
"It's a great chance for us to reminisce and to share with this generation how we were taught to perform these original compositions."
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posted by wickliffp1996 @ 20:29
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