Last month Te Pānui Rūnaka published this image on the back page and requested names or information be provided about the photograph. Ex-Te Waipounamu Māori Girls College girls (who are actually in the photograph), made contact with us to provide names and information surrounding the day the photograph was taken. We did receive some differing information for a couple of the girls who are in the photograph, so we will record all the names that we have been given, within this article. We would like to acknowledge and thank Lynda Turia (née Horn), Ngaire Jantzen (née Smith), Mary Harvey (née Williamson) and David Pumphrey for making contact and for providing names and information.
The majority of the callers who made contact with us advised that this photograph was taken on 22 October, 1966 (Labour Weekend), just after the Te Waipounamu Māori Girls College group had come off stage after performing at the South Island Māori Cultural Competitions.
The competitions were held at the Civic Theatre, Manchester Street, Christchurch. The girls gained 1st place in Junior A section, beating Te Kaihanga Boys by half a point. One caller stated that, “We were fortunate to have been visited prior to the comps by Bill Kerekere, who gave us a few tips, which enhanced our chances to win”.
It has been noted that Theresa Goomes was the lead vocalist/guitarist. She led the group out on stage singing ‘Tēnā rā, Tēnā rā, Waipounamu …’ followed by ‘Tēnei te reo o Te Wai Pounamu’. Other items sung were the Lord’s Prayer, Auē te aroha i ahau, Pōwhiritia rā. Another caller advised that the items were: March on: Tēnei te reo, Action song: Pōwhiritia, Poi: Me he manurere, Walk off: Tukari, Haka: Ka panapana.
Placings were 1st Te Waipounamu Māori Girls College, 2nd Te Kaihanga Boys Hostel, 3rd Rangiora.
A caller let us know the following: “Joe Waretini and his wife Darling, from Ashburton at that time, were our tutors. We were so lucky to have had them, we learnt so much from them vocally. They translated everything we sang so we knew what the actions were all about. They were awesome.
They also taught us how to make piupiu, tāniko and poi, if my memory is correct. Joe and Darling often sang together and wow did she have the voice of an angel. She passed away suddenly not so long after 1966. A huge shock to us all”.
Two callers let us know that it was compulsory for the group to have at least one Pākehā performer in the group, and that in 1966 Te Waipounamu Girls College had two performing with them. One caller thought that the two performers were Anne Caldwell and Margaret McCauley, while two other callers named them as Stephanie Fergusson and Margaret Cummings.
There was differing information about this photograph, a caller and former senior producer for CHTV3, advised that he thought that Roy Kennard was the photographer and that this photograph was taken in 1964 immediately after recording a television programme about Te Waipounamu Māori Girls College.
Te Waipounamu Girls kapa haka rōpū. Row 4 (back row): Kate Mackey, Margaret Phillips, Laina Waitiri, Erini Parata, Amelia Durant (behind), Sheila Hohua, Huirangi Matenga, Lynette McClurg, Lynda Horn, Ona Hughes, Anne Adsett, Maryanne Lowther. Row 3: Judith-Anne Jones, Hilda Biddle, Anne Korako, Alice Maxwell, Magdaline Tahapehi, Percyleen Tane, Stephanie Fergusson (American Field Scholar, Avonside Girls High) or Margaret McCauley (Avonside Girls High), Rowena Skerrett, Elizabeth McKinney. Row 2: Theresa Goomes (guitarist), Joe Waretini (Tutor), Margaret Robertson, Betty Robertson, Maria Korako, Ngaire Smith, Mere Skudder, Mary Williamson, Hiki Kerekere. Row 1 (front row): Isobel Phillips, Mate Waititi, Maata Tauwhare, Rose Meha, Margaret Cummings (Avonside Girls High) or Anne Cauldwell (Avonside Girls High), Riki Kerekere.