Mākereti (Maggie) Papakura, a Rotorua tourist guide, formed a kapa haka group with her half-sister, Bella, in the early 20th century. The group performed at an exhibition in Sydney in 1910 and was asked by local businessmen to travel to England. The 40-strong touring party included a brass band, a quartet and the solo singer Iwa. This poster advertises their performances at London's famed Crystal Palace Theatre. The tour received widespread and favourable publicity but was a financial disaster. Papakura was later bitterly criticised by her Whakarewarewa community because about half the group's members chose to remain in England.
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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference:
Eph-D-MAORI-CONCERTS-1911-01
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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