Page 107 - Mistified Update June 2020_Neat
P. 107
“Haere mai ra..., haere mai ra…,
haere mai ra…”
“Advance now…, come forward…,
appear before us…”
Miss Grace stood at the front of the group to lead
the way. Suddenly she responded to the karanga. The
presence and power of her voice was astonishing. It
seemed to shake the heavens.
It sent shivers up my spine.
After the women completed their exchange, the men
began the whaikorero.
I now understood why Koro Hemi had come, to
speak on our behalf. No wonder I could not speak for
myself; they all spoke this ceremony in their language.
They seemed to also have to say specific things that I
would not know where to begin.
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