Waka sails into San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO - Around 1000 San Franciscans and ex-pat New Zealanders braved the chill and foggy San Franciso dawn today as a waka all the way from Waitangi sailed into the city.

Aboard 18 Maori warriors brought a treasured cloak as a gift to the city, later presented by the Maori Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu to the city's president of the board of governors Aaron Pescin.

Before the waka Te Ika a Maui landed, three warriors from the city's native Ohlone tribe paddled out to escort it in their own traditional canoes.

Later, the Maori warriors, led by Joe Harawira of Ngai Terangi and Ngati Awa, gave San Francisco a taste of the haka, reciprocated by dancing and singing by the Ohlone, Hoopa and Pomo tribes.

Mr Harawira said the event had been held in tremendous spirit. "It's crucial that we as indigenous peoples meet so we can feel each others' spirit. This type of event in the only way to keep our cultures alive."

David Smith, of the Pomo people from north of San Francisco said their culture was kept alive through teaching on seven Pomo reservations in California, and on a total of 72 native reservations of the region.

Meeting with Maori was one way of ensuring their own culture was kept alive and played its part in increasing world understanding.

Mr Pescin was proud to accept the cloak and said the event had generated strong interest in the city. "I've never seen hundreds of people wake up and come here so early in the morning before the sun rises.

"It's a great honour to receive the Queen and the New Zealand ambassador and we're delighted to have such close ties with our friends across the Pacific."

Today's ceremony was part of a joint venture between Toi Maori -- Maori Arts New Zealand -- and Tourism New Zealand to promote New Zealand culture in San Francisco.

The event continues today with the opening of the exhibition Toi Maori: Art from the Maori People of New Zealand at the Yerba Buena Centre in central San Francisco.

The exhibition, featuring 170 pieces of weaving, carving and ceramics and live moko tattooing, runs for 10 days in San Francisco before moving on to other United States cities.

- NZPA