Volvo Ocean Race 2001/2002 zurück zur Übersicht Tagesberichte VOLVO OCEAN RACE Auckland, New Zealand, January 24th 2002 Volvo Ocean Race: The day the Maoris bid farewell Today in Auckland, under the strong morning sun, with spectacular backdrop views, the Volvo Ocean Race teams were welcomed into the ‘Ngati Whatua’ tribe’s village. Crew from the eight competing teams took part in the traditional Maori ceremony, to wish them farewell and a safe journey across the seas on leg four of the Volvo Ocean Race which starts this Sunday. It was a chance for the sailors to experience some historical New Zealand culture, and also to be blessed for the next gruelling Southern Ocean leg, from Auckland to Rio de Janeiro. The members of the tribe were also pleased to have the opportunity to welcome round the world sailors into their community, to learn a little about yachting, and to bond men of the land with men of the sea. At a secure distance from the village entrance, the sailors stood quietly, enjoying the view, admiring the entrance adorned with carvings, and waiting for the ceremony to begin. The silence was short-lived, as four striking figures in traditional dress of beaded skirts and feathered headdresses, charged towards the group, puffing and yelling and brandishing weapons. Eyes wide and rolling, with tongues stretched out, the Maori warriors proceeded to approach the ‘strangers’ with measured caution. Were the sailors friends, or foe? A fifth warrior emerged from the village to test the status of the strangers – a series of fighting moves were demonstrated at a safe proximity, followed by the placing of a large leaf in front of the outsiders. The Hon John Banks, Mayor of Tamaki, stepped forward to collect the leaf and accept the challenge. Satisfied with this acceptance, the warrior returned to the village, sending a second Maori to take his place. An intimidating sight, with exotic headgear and both nipples pierced, he placed a smaller leaf on the ground. The Mayor established the group’s friendliness by once again collecting the leaf. This completed the challenge to the strangers and allowed the seafarers to be invited into the village. Once inside the breathtaking village, the crew were greeted by song and chants, and asked to sit in the ‘marae’ – the heart of the settlement in front of the communal meeting house. The meeting house was covered in intricately designed carvings, with a totem pole at the entrance. The formal procedure continued with welcome speeches from Maori elders, and customary songs from the younger adults. In revered silence, the crew watched as the men and women of the tribe combined hungry chanting with sweet harmonies. Accompanied by shaking hands and rolling eyes, a spiritual and powerful atmosphere was created. This feeling was intensified by the demonstration of a traditional instrument, the ‘purere huu’. A simple construction of a wooden slat tied to the end of the string, when spun it made a hollowing sound, resembling the deep resonance of wind humming in a yacht’s rigging. A final song from the Ngati Whatua followed the speeches, this time a slow, soulful tune, without chanting, with a melancholy feel. In English, it asked “Who will look after this marae after you have gone”, and signified the importance of the sailors visit to the village. At this point the skippers were given the chance to thank the tribe for their prayers and kind words. Grant Dalton, skipper of Amer Sports One, thought that it was a great honour to be there, “The Volvo Ocean Race brings together cultures. We are a mix of nationalities and races but we all share the same bond, the bond of the sea. As a Kiwi, I am particularly proud to be here today, as the Maoris are the true history of my country” ASSA ABLOY skipper, Neal McDonald, enthused, “This is my first Maori experience here today, and it will be one of the best memories that I take from this race” Not known for their singing skills, the teams subsequently gave an impressive performance of a song penned by Keith Leggett, of Auckland City Council, called ‘Around the world’, a beautiful tribute to the meeting between the tribe and sailors. This signalled the final stage of the farewell, and a ritual salute, ‘the hongi’, ensued, the sailors touched noses and shared breath with the Maori elders. This salute indicated that the crew had become one with the local people. The enjoyable morning became more poignant when the crew were given pendants, carved out of beef bone, and designed as part of the arts programme run within the marae. Engraved with the tribal fish-scale pattern of the Ngati Whatua, they will serve as a long-lasting memory of the day the Maoris bid farewell. Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE