January 2007 – ICI go into battle with the haka – The theme for ICI’s annual conference in Brighton this year was “Going into Battle”. With over nine hundred delegates attending the conference ICI were looking for a unique way to get the message across. As Maori warriors used the haka to prepare for battle and the All Blacks use the haka to prepare for international test matches, ICI wanted to use haka to invoke the passion, power and teamwork needed for going into battle in the corporate environment. Prior to the conference, Manaia and ICI senior management work-shopped haka and Maori cultural concepts applicable to the theme including commitment, focus and teamwork using the haka as the tool for exploring these ideas. At the conference, ICI senior management team welcomed Manaia into the conference venue where sixteen of our performers joined them on stage and performed the haka “Ka mate”. Following the performance, it was the delegates’ turn. They were divided into 5 groups and in breakout rooms, Manaia trainers discussed haka and taught the haka “Ka mate”. Then all nine hundred were brought back into the conference theatre where in unison, they performed the haka “Ka mate” – a truly moving sight to behold.

January 2007 – Manaia perform at the New South Wales Art gallery, Sydney Australia – Manaia often get asked to perform in the UK and Europe. However, in January this year Manaia were asked to perform at the New South Wales Art Gallery, Sydney, Australia for a birthday party for a relative of one of our London based clients. Manaia was able to utilise performers who were located in New Zealand and Sydney at the time, to provide a traditional Maori performance including some old time favourites from home.

November 2006 – Hawaiian grading for Manaia performers in the traditional Maori weaponry art of mau taiaha – A number of Manaia performers were in Hawaii for their grading in mau taiaha or ancient Maori weaponry. As members of Maramara Totara, the Maori weaponry school here in London and under the auspices of Te Whare Tu Taaua o Aotearoa, the National School of Ancient Weaponry, all passed, despite the lengthy and strenuous training schedule. The group were hosted by local Hawaiian people and were privileged to experience the dance, food, martial arts knowledge, generosity and aloha of the people of Hawaii.

October 2006 Rangiatea – Seeds Sown from Greatness. This year Manaia worked in collaboration with International Workshop Festival to bring a series of Maori performance based workshops culminating with a show at the Cochrane theatre, West End, London. The workshops were open to the public and involved a number of performance disciplines including haka, poi, taiaha and ta moko. The show was definitely a high light for Manaia. Called, Rangiatea – Seeds Sown from Greatness, in reference to the homeland of all Polynesian Peoples, it was a showcase of the work of a number of Maori and Polynesian performing artists, with work inspired by our ancient stories of creation and movement. Manaia’s piece was a 40 minute production of the story of Rangi and Papa and their children the story of the creation of the universe - featuring Tane, Tangaroa, Tumatauenga, Tawhirimatea and others.

September 2006 – Deloittes haka performance the biggest so far for Manaia. Manaia were asked to provide something extra when it performed the haka at the Deloittes conference at Battersea Park Events Centre this year. To an audience of 1600 delegates, on two stages, with surround amplification, visual effects and images on huge plasma screens, Manaia pulled out all the stops. With the whole centre plunged into darkness and silence, the deep sound of the manawa, the heart beat slowly filled the room, images of Maori warriors with moko (tattoo) appeared on huge screens. Manaia performers come our on to stage, the roar of the purerehua starts, the conch shells blow and our warriors go out with the taiaha to lay the challenge. The karanga goes out to all and then sixteen Maori performers provide a powerful performance of the haka “Ka mate”.