THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Bangkok Kiwis celebrate National Day with breath-taking Māori performance

Bangkok Kiwis celebrate National Day with breath-taking Māori performance

New Zealand citizens in Bangkok, as well as visitors from the country, celebrated their National Day on Sunday with an event that began with a rare sight in Thailand – a startling Kapa Haka performance.

The performance began with an emotionally powerful rendition of the country’s national anthem, then continued with the unique singing, dancing and chanting that together create a style of performance that is unique to the country’s Māori people.

New Zealanders, known affectionately as "Kiwis", celebrate their National Day on February 6.

This is the day, in 1840, when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by representatives of more than 500 Māori chiefs and the British Crown. National Day was officially commemorated in New Zealand in 1934 and became a public holiday in 1974.

The treaty of 1840 is considered the nation’s founding document.

Celebrations and appreciation of Māori culture are considered essential – and joyful – in New Zealand. This point was highlighted by Melissa Haydon-Clarke, deputy head of mission at the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok.

Bangkok Kiwis celebrate National Day with breath-taking Māori performance

After thanking those who attended the event, she said: “It is a significant day in New Zealand to reflect on our combined culture, to see the modern nation that we are today, and to have fun.”

New Zealand National Day is a time to celebrate with friends and family and reflect on what it means to be a Kiwi, participants said.

Bangkok Kiwis celebrate National Day with breath-taking Māori performance Bangkok Kiwis celebrate National Day with breath-taking Māori performance Bangkok Kiwis celebrate National Day with breath-taking Māori performance Bangkok Kiwis celebrate National Day with breath-taking Māori performance

The celebration offered a wide range of food stalls, barbeques, free-flowing New Zealand wine, golf, and raffles.

But it was the Kapa Haka performance that set the tone. Literally, “Kapa” means “to form a line” and “Haka” means “breath on fire”.

After the anthem, the performance fused sound and movement to convey a powerful sense of identity.

It also included a ceremonial Māori war dance, or challenge, that historically is performed to demonstrate a tribe's pride, strength, and unity. One of the typical moves is for the male performers to stick out their tongues and widen their eyes to intimidate the enemy.

Bangkok Kiwis celebrate National Day with breath-taking Māori performance

The event was co-hosted by New Zealand-Thai Chamber of Commerce, New Zealand Society and New Zealand Alumni, and sponsored by  New Zealand Embassy. It was held at TopGolf Megacity Bangna.

In April, Kiwis celebrate ANZAC day in honour of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. It is a national day of remembrance in both countries, commemorating all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations".

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