N E W S L E T T E R February 2017
Chengdu International Sister City Youth Music Festival By Justine Allen, Hamilton City Council Taiohi Manawataki kapa haka group (who are part of Entertainment Suite Ltd) were invited by the Chengdu Municipal Government to travel to Chengdu in July 2016 to take part in the Chengdu International Sister City Youth Music Festival (the first time a Hamilton / New Zealand group has taken part in this festival). The festival included 40 art teams from China, and nearly 500 young musicians from 19 countries and regions around the world. Aside from performing with all the other sister city groups Taiohi Manawataki had the prestigious honour of being one of only five groups asked to perform
also at the opening ceremony. Entertainment Suite is a mainstream community project that seeks to empower the futures of its members by using music and culture to develop their confidence so they realise their purpose. The Maori word 'taiohi' refers to the ages of the members. 'manawa' refers to heart and love and 'taki' means rhythm. In 2017 Hamilton City Council will be calling for applications from performing groups wishing to be involved in this year’s festival.
Wuxi-Hamilton 30th anniversary celebrations By Justine Allen, Hamilton City Council During NZ Chinese Language week in September we organised with the Hamilton Central library a concert to celebrate our 30th anniversary with Wuxi. This concert was very popular and featured Hamilton based and nationally renowned guzheng player Chen XiYao, Taiohi Manawataki kapa haka group (presented by Entertainment Suite), and the Hamilton Ethnic Dance Society. On display at the library also was the signed sister city document, Wuxi's 30th anniversary gift to the city (Da a Fu figurines), past civic gifts, and silk scrolls featuring beautiful images of Wuxi.