Ngaruawahia High School Yearbooks 2010-2012 Kapa Haka Tour of Western USA 1998 | Page 63

Ngaruawahia High School Kapa Haka USA Tour 1998 - Page 61

(Above and top) Sections of the group performing to the guests at the Gold & Green dance.

The organiser of the Salt Lake City part of
the trip, Dave Atkinson (right) stated after the
performance that the show was the most polished
and professional act he had seen in the 15 years
he had been living in Salt Lake, and that
comparison included professional culture groups.
Members of the audience responded to the
presentation of gifts to Dave Atkinson with a haka
of their own, recognising the efforts of Dave and
his cultural group who are committed to retaining
their sense of identity as Maori in a foreign land.
The evening was held in an LDS chapel
close to Temple Square, the site of the first chapel
built when the Saints arrived in the Great Salt
Valley over 150 years ago. The original stained
glass window has been preserved and
incorporated in the later building and is back-lit.

Al Duane Ngakuru after presenting The Historical Atlas of
New Zealand to Dave Atkinson and his wife for their
contribution in organising the Utah section of the tour. Dave
organised the billets and performance schedule.