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Wednesday 5th October 2011

The Rugby Haka Hangi Festival held it's final festival at the Dannevirke A & P Showgrounds last weekend Friday 30th September - Saturday 1st October 2011, this being the last of a series of five festivals held through out the east coast. The festival kicked off in Carterton on the 10th September, followed by Hastings, Te Aute College, Wairoa and then Dannevirke.
 
Dannevirke is the home to seven former All Blacks including  Lui Paewai, the youngest player ever to don the All Black jersey at the age of seventeen. Ngati Kahungunu Iwi was proud to host visitors to an unforgettable experience both on and off the pitch in this festival of friendship.
 
The festivities started with a traditional powhiri on Friday evening, welcoming the visitors who were in attendance. After the powhiri there was organised a social evening of introductions to the local community and rugby entertainment, with the rugby game that night was South Africa versus Samoa they had  arranged entertainment from both those countries.

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi chairman Hayden Hape said he was very pleased with the way the festival had run and better still that the rain stayed away so many festival goers had lots fun and play.

There were games, entertainment, food stalls, arts and crafts and competitions for all that attended. There was a Traditional Hangi being put down and a BBQ sizzling away with past resident and Member of Parliment Parekura Horomia at the helm.

A great draw card for the festival and the children were all the giant inflatable games, the ques just got longer, as for the children.......... it was all well worth the wait.

The main event for the day was the Tararua rugby Team taking on the World Team in a friendly rugby game. In the world team the international line-up included George Blackmore (England), Will Whitehead (England), Sebastian Miller (Germany) and our local Manawatu rugby representative player Regan Hunt.

 A good fair game of rugby was played and at each quarter of the game, the players had a well deserved break, in that time, all who wanted to dance came out onto the field for a "Dance Off" including our very own "Dancing Maori Warden" moon walking in his white gloves.



At the conclusion of the rugby game a mass Haka was performed by both players, spectators and children, that finished the day off on a high note. 

Below check the action at the Rugby Haka Hangi Festival.
Karen Blair