Issue 81 - editorial

Spoilt for choice

Tena ano tatou

Sometimes I can’t help but marvel at the variety of things that Maori are getting up to around this country and the world, and this April/May issue of Mana bears testimony to that.

There’s quite a big focus on music this time, and while New Zealand Music Month is celebrated each May, in each issue we could write literally dozens of stories about Maori in every conceivable area of the music industry.

Katchafire’s our cover story, and not just because my cousin Jamey Ferguson is their saxophonist, keyboard player and does a bit of singing too; but because they really are on fire with audiences in many parts of the world flocking to hear their Aotearoa style of reggae.

At the other end of the musical scale young Elizabeth Marvelly from Ohinemutu – one of the Morrison clan - seems set to hit the big time in the world of ‘popera’ singing. She’s just been included in a compilation album along with Pavarotti and Paul McCartney and will soon make her debut on stage at the Sydney Opera House before going to London.

Speaking of Pavarotti, we have a story about another whanaunga of mine, Ash Puriri, whose big voice renditions of Pavarotti and Barry White songs are heard on up to 30 cruise ships around the world each year.

As Anzac Day rolls around each year, we remember those who paid the price of citizenship. Julian Arahanga – who’s spent quite a bit of time in front of the camera as an actor - talks about the film he’s just made, this time behind the camera as a director. It’s about John Pohe the young Ngati Rangi man from Whanganui and Taihape who went off to World War II to fly bombers in Europe. The story is one of heroism and tragedy as John Pohe is captured by the Germans – escapes with 75 other airmen in the incident that became known as the ‘Great Escape’ only to be recaptured and executed.

We are reminded too that our troops are still on the job. Major Syd Dewes from Tikitiki has a heart-warming tale to tell of a special mercy mission high in the snow-blanketed mountains of Afghanistan, where he is currently serving with the New Zealand Army.

As usual the Mana Kai section will have your taste buds running, and there are some tempting reader giveaways too.

Oh and before I go you might have noticed that I briefly made the news recently with my selection to contest the Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat for the Maori Party in the General Election later this year. While I’m looking forward to the contest, it won’t affect the quality or the range of stories we cover in Mana.

Kia ora