Sir Anthony Hopkins moved by marae welcome

Sir Anthony Hopkins

Sir Anthony Hopkins told Murihiku Marae whanau he was "deeply moved" after they welcomed him and his colleagues on to their Invercargill marae on Saturday.

During a day's break from filming, crew members of The World's Fastest Indian visited the marae and took part in a traditional Maori ceremony.

Both Sir Anthony and director Roger Donaldson spoke to the gathered marae whanau.

Speeches from both groups were occasionally light-hearted with references from speakers to Sir Anthony's role as the flesh-eating Hannibal Lecter.

Sir Anthony took it in his stride, snapping his teeth in imitation of an infamous scene from The Silence of the Lambs.

He told the whanau he had never known such peace as he was experiencing in Invercargill and he was trying to convince his wife to move here.

The powhiri had deeply and spiritually moved him, he said, and he finished his speech with a lilting Welsh song.

Donaldson told marae whanau that it was the first time he had been welcomed on to a marae. He was greatly honoured to be there, he said.

Waihopai Runanga upoko (head) Michael Skerrett said Sir Anthony had taken part in waiata and a haka, after the powhiri.

Sir Anthony was presented with a gift of 'Tangiwai', a pounamu pebble found at Milford, which was significant, Mr Skerrett said.

Many other tribes had been represented during the ceremony at Murihiku Marae, not just Ngai Tahu, he said.

- NZPA