About 65 members and guests were treated to some fine Maori singing and music from singer and song writer Ariana Tikau who was accompanied on keyboards by Duncan Haynes and Serenity Thurlow on the violin. Alisa Smith performed along with Serenity with the pois.

It is sometimes difficult to describe Ariana’s voice and the songs she sings so some material from her website helps me out enormously www.myspace.com/arianatikao.

“Indie”, “Indigenous soul talk from te wai pounamu” “There is power and grace in this Waihine”

I would have to agree to all of the above and her album release called tuia – has some lovely laments and lullabys which enter deeply into our minds, our eyes become closed and we can feel many miles away. Her song Stitched becomes a metaphor for the connections of generations and is a love song for her whanau and was very pleasant.

The President welcomed the 2008 Air New Zealand New Zealander of the Year Award recipient Ian Conrich who as founding director of the Centre for New Zealand Studies received a cheque for £700.00 from our charities fund. Our donation sponsors the NZ Society Fellowship at the Centre.

A fine evening had by all with the catering from Anita and thanks also to the helpers on the bar, the front desk and for tidy up afterwards.

Martin Conway
Event Organiser