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Hawke's Bay Performers to Welcome Clinton
4th November 2010
Hillary Clinton
Hawke's Bay's Kahurangi Maori Dance Company will welcome United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she arrives in New Zealand today.
Kahurangi will be responsible for the powhiri to Mrs Clinton at Parliament House in the capital, alongside groups from the Whanganui and Wellington areas.
Kahurangi executive director, Tama Huata, said about 30 people had been selected for the group which will welcome Mrs Clinton.
Among them will be the official kaumatua of Parliament, Rose Tahu (nee McDonald), from Porangahau, who will be responsible for guiding Mrs Clinton into Parliament House, explaining the tikanga or protocol of the powhiri and performing the karanga as the visitors move into the building. "We've performed for several heads of state, prime ministers and ambassadors in the past, but Mrs Clinton is probably the first American dignitary we've been asked to welcome," Mr Huata said.
"The group is probably one of the largest we've assembled for an event like this, they are across all ages and they're all excited about the powhiri. This might be Mrs Clinton's first experience of a powhiri and we want to make it special."
Kahurangi is also sending a group to New Delhi and Dubai at the end of this month.
"We have been asked to perform at a festival in New Delhi and a New Zealand function in Dubai," Mr Huata said.
About 20 performers have been selected for that trip.
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