Mākereti (Maggie) Papakura, a Rotorua tourist guide, formed a kapa haka 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, women who were experts in poi 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 bitterly criticised by her Whakarewarewa community after half the group’s members chose to remain in England.
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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.