New Zealand String Quartet Plays Barefoot

SummaryMusical renditions of Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and ‘Pokarekare Ana' flowed from a barefoot New Zealand String Quartet in Tauranga on 23 and 24 April 2014 at Huria Marae in Judea - the quartet's first time in 20 years playing on a marae. Main Body

Tauranga, New Zealand (Thursday 24 April 2014) – Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss were all played barefoot by the NZ String Quartet last night in Tauranga, as for the first time in their 20 year history they played on a marae.

Hūria Marae in Judea hosted the free performance as part of the Battle of Gate Pā 150th Commemoration events. The Quartet will also play again this evening at 6pm, featuring music from 1864 as a tribute to the fallen British soldiers and Māori warriors.

Buddy Mikaere, Project Director of the Commemoration, said "We thought it would combine the two cultures by having classical music of the time played in a Māori location. Our hope is to provide events the general public will find interesting and lead to them discovering more about the Battle of Gate Pā that founded our city."

Viola player, Gillian Ansell said "We were delighted to play in such an environment and to be part of the commemoration events. Our programme is varied and even includes a rendition of ‘Pokarekare Ana’."

"We noticed how good the acoustics were as soon as we arrived and it makes it even more of a pleasure for us and the audience," said Douglas Beilman, second violin player. Learning about the Battle of Gate Pā has been interesting. I did not know about the Code of Conduct the Māori issued to the British prior to the battle, that preceeded the Geneva Convention.

The Battle of Gate Pā was one of the few battles won by the Māori and they were outnumbered by about 10 to one. Gate Pā Reserve is the only urban battle site in New Zealand and is located right next to the Gate Pā Shopping Centre.

The general public are invited to the free events leading up to and including the Commemoration on Tuesday 29 April. On the day there will be a dawn blessing of the new pou and flagpole at Gate Pā Reserve, full Military service at the Mission Cemetery, Military march to the Gate Pā Reserve up Cameron Road, massed wero and haka by Iwi in response and an ecumenical service and ceremony. Further information can be found at www.battleofgatepa.com.