June 04, 2013
Te Māori highlight of artistic life
A Māori arts leader honoured in the Queen’s Birthday list says it’s a tohu for the whole sector.
Piri Sciascia of Ngāti Kahungunu was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori arts.
He has a more than 40 year involvement with the Māori performing arts as a performer, composer, tutor, adviser, and leader.
Mr Sciascia says a highlight of his career was doing a lot of the behind the scenes work needed to get the Te Māori exhibition to the United States in 1984.
"You know one of the great exciting parts of it was the assembly of our people to go and be part of the four openings and to work with the collective that is Māoridom and that became easily its strength. When we stood together as a nation, as one people, kia ora te ao, watch out world. It was as simple and as powerful as that,” he says.
Also honoured was Ngāti Te Ata kuia Nganeko Kaihau Minhinnick, who was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
In 1985 Dame Nganeko led the claim to the Waitangi Tribunal seeking the cleanup of the Manukau Harbour.
Through her advocacy she made the notion of kaitiakitanga part of resource management law, and she has also represented her iwi at the United Nations.
Another noted Maori environmentalist, John Klaricich of Omapere was made a Companion of the Order of New Zealand for services to Māori and the community.
New members of the order include Robert Mingi Elliott, of Te Awamutu, for services to Māori and mental health services, Morvin Te Anatipa Simon of Whanganui, for services to Māori, and Crown Forestry Rental Trust chief executive Darrin Sykes, for services to touch rugby administration.
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