Southwell Choir serenading at Waitangi

The decorated rafters of the meeting house at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds rang to a different sound of music recently, when the girls’ choir from Southwell School in Hamilton gathered to sing traditional melodies.

The Whare Runanga, which was opened in 1940, has mostly echoed to the waiata of Te Reo Maori, but it was the turn of the other treaty partner.

With guide Ngati Kawa Taituha, the girls’ choir of Hamilton’s Southwell School enthusiastically toured the Treaty Grounds, after singing at the waka shelter (korowai)­ during their powhiri, and then taking their talents into the Whare.

The school follows the choral traditions of its English namesake, Southwell Minster, with both choirs’ roots in classical music.

The Hamilton school’s choirs have also produced an annual Gilbert and Sullivan opera for the last 88 years, says teacher Janice Lapwood.

“The Maori king is an old boy of our school and this visit was an important part of widening the pupils’ appreciation of Maoritanga. They only sing a few Maori songs, but they are extending that side of things, which is why this trip is quite special for them. They’re a very talented group of young people.”

The girls aged 9-12 years spent two days in the Bay, visiting the Stone Store, singing at St Paul’s in Paihia, and in Russell’s main street. They even sang inside the Hole in the Rock, says Janice Lapwood, “and the acoustics were incredible”.

The group visited Pompalier, and were welcomed on to Te Tii Bay Marae where they were guests for an evening hangi. They must have eaten their meat, as there was still happy talk of the marae pudding next day; pavlova with kiwifruit!

Waitangi education officer and teacher, Barbara Brown, says the programmes at the Treaty Grounds tick numerous boxes in the school curriculum.

“Science, social studies, history, arts, language and even technology are covered in school visits to The Birthplace.

“When it comes to motivating education, you just can’t beat standing where history actually happened. The Treaty being so woven into our country’s fabric today, we really can call Waitangi ‘present’ history.”

“The girls have absolutely loved their visit,” says Ms Lapwood.

“We have a girls’ choir and a boys’ choir and neither had been up to the Bay of Islands.”

The sequel happens next year, when the boys’ choir will be ready on cue for their “conducted” tour of Waitangi.