“Tatou – Honor Role.”
Rugby News, Hollywood Calif – Ko nga mea katoa e kitea e tou ringa kia mahia, kia puta tou uaua ki te mahi; kahore hoki he mahi, kahore he tikanga, kahore he matauranga, kahore he whakaaro nui i te reinga, i te wahi ka haere atu na koe ki reira. Whatever you set your hands to do, do it with all your might –King Solomon.
We see fideliter. It anchors us consistently. We hold to our school ideal, of serving faithfully–WBHS Fideliter Moniker, School Song.
We are waiting on prophecy–Moana Maniapoto, song: Prophecy
Surrender to the sky. Over snow-mountain shine, upon the upland road, ride easy–James K. Baxter — poet-seer.
With rugby football and haka in hand, we carve our narrative across green of paddock. Our spirit’s dream expressed as talented physicality driving us forward as relentless sporting passion, forming “our rough-hewn story”.–filmmaker Rudall Hayward, The Te Kooti Trail
Kimihia te kahurangi;. ki te piko tōu matenga, ki te maunga teitei. If you bow your head. Let it be only. To a great mountain–Maori proverb of the ancients, a favorite of Ta Witi Ihimaera, author of Pounamu, Pounamu, a literary collection taught at WBHS when I was in high school.
“We have a good story to tell”–Prime Minister John Key
In Hollywood tonight, the City of Angels, (namely me, oh- and Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon rugby fans of Invictus the rugby leadership movie, maybe just a little bit too, & Ye Old King’s Head Tavern rugby supporters in Santa Monica too!) we celebrate the sporting selection of Sonny Bill Williams joining Samuel and George Whitelock in the announced new team of the New Zealand All Blacks for 2010/11.
New Zealand is the host nation in 2011, of the fiercely contested, gladiatorial sporting world’s, elite Rugby World Cup.
Get to it if you can. Awesomery sporting action. Gladiatorial sporting action. The supporters of the sport are one of the most fun aspects of the game of rugby football. Another reason to get there, just be a part of them all. Bloody good people.
As culturally correct, in sending these lads on their haerenga (journey) towards greatness, we celebrate this with the haka of Te Rauparaha, a Chief who overcame death from enemies in hot pursuit of his life. Te Rauparaha took refuge in a kumara (sweet potato) pit, beneath a Chiefly and noble woman who sat above him wearing chiefly woven cloaks that covered her and him. When he arose from the pit unscathed - he celebrated with these words of the haka (Maori warrior’s war dance), an artform of masculine ferocity and cool, an expression of strength of a man’s inner spirit, distinct and indigenous to Aotearoa/ New Zealand. Centuries later, this same haka, is the offiical haka of New Zealand rugby lads.
Two hakas go up to be beamed out today from L.A. The first a haka from All Blacks rugby football sporting history performed before a match against South Africa, the current holders of The William Webb Ellis Cup.
The second haka, is the haka of Ngapuhi school boys in one high school - from the entire school of Whangarei Boys High School, brown and white lads (and fellow awesome redheaded like fire et al Kiwis too) performing in unison in the Maori language, in a city that is in the tribal region of NgapuhiTonuNui, one of my two Maori tribes by blood.
In doing so, WBHS send a challenge throughout all high schools in their nation, to match them and do the same with their ferocity – in unity as a collective school expressing Maori culture, language and heritage arts together with pride as a norm and forefront expression of their identity.
Back in my day, the school haka we wrote and performed under Wiki Harding‘s tutelege when I was the High School Maori Cultural captain, when performed – went on to win that year at the Te Taitokerau High Schools Maori Cultural (Kapa Haka) Festival - A haka that won the cup. Which is why, I’m posting this school’s haka in Hollywood today. It is like prophesy that “the best is yet to come.” This haka featured is a new and updated version. Ka pai. It is good to see culture strong and evolving.
Ngapuhi is the largest Maori tribe by population, in the world. A good effort of leadership from WBHS! Interwoven community strength of participators actively creating and performing culture (like Hollywood movie stars do in film), being the star. Of course WBHS, you’re doing this today. 120+ years of being together as a school, looks good. Mauri Ora from Hollywood. :)
What a fine effort. A reminder that in sport and culture we are all united and are black too in New Zealand. And because we are, I acknowledge, see, affirm, give expression to and visibility to: your ihi, wehi, mana as young men of importance and value as leaders of the modern world in your own right, already. Btw: I am adding all of you lads to Hollywood’s Maori (& Kool Kiwis) Honor Role today. We are on a roll. :)
This image of Horiwood aka Sam Cruickshank (yawn! me – sorry), graduate of Whangarei Boys High School, CR Theology College (woooot!), Te Whare Waanaga a Aotearoa and Auckland University, with Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black to encourage both sporting achievement, entertainment excellence and academic achievement of all young people in New Zealand, on the rugby field and in lecture theater rooms and science labs too and on cultural/ theater stages, on sets and in cinemas. If you endure, dream, find strength within, always look up not down, and believe and give expression to your belief, your voice can be heard in the world too. Even against great odds, as you and Sonny Bill Williams and Samuel W, show as a rugby and haka nation of men who love to perform and entertain.
Good stuff fellahs! Louder - I still can’t quite hear you. :) And – go Rugby World cup players, supporters, followers and entourage of rugby mad babes too, like the smart and sporty Yale Women’s Rugby Team here in the US - for 2011. Kia Kaha Koutou- May great strength be yours.
[Top image - Samuel Whitelock scores a try breaking the tackle from Richard Buckman via Zimbio. All Blacks Rugby Football Team coach Graham Henry rolls out with his latest football appointment, Sonny B Williams, today. Image via Zimbio. Dustin Lance Black and Horiwood appear for Robert Ellis, an author for World Peace in the Middle East. Box office star and Oscar winning Maori-Kiwi-Aussie, Russell Crowe's Hollywood star, Hollywood Walk of Fame, California - The Te-Ika-A-Maui version.]
This post also dedicated to Ngapuhi rugby sporting greats, Zinzan Brooke and brother Robin Brooke of Warkworth; to my family’s childhood friend, world rugby great, Michael Jones and family and extended family of friends and allied Oak Ridge whanau a Whale Pasifika, along with youngsters and entertainers and sporting greats in the making Freedom Kahanui, Oscar Brooke, Louis Henry III, Taylor Thomas Thorp and Bailey Reign.
Universal of California are broadcasting The Rugby World Cup within America, 2011. Go Universal Sports and Warner Bros Studios for promoting rugby football as sporting entertainment in the USA.
When visiting California, Universal CityWalk Theme Park is a great place to visit when in Hollywood.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.18.10~
MAORI ROLLING STONE TRUE BLOOD TRIBUTE AND THE HORIWOOD TOP TEN – WED 8.18.10
One image especially for Maori and Polynesian artists, all Kiwis and Canadians as well as True Blood fans who dig Anna Paquin and her fearless art as an entertainer. Jokingly I might add, that we taught this kid well in Jane Campion‘s The Piano filming years, didn’t we Maoris? Thank goodness for Maori extras in Hollywood’s cinematic history and current evolution of entertainment. Some of Anna’s best memories of early filmic friends are Maori moments. lol!
Apologies to vegetarians and PETA lovers for all of the faux blood splatter again, but here’s the Hollywood Maori tribute version to Rolling Stone‘s hot Anna Paquin cover for True Blood with Alex Skarsgard and Stephen Moyer (it just had to be done).
As I was getting this photo, this mag was flying off the rack stands so quick, it made me want a medium-rare, Californian flame grilled Houston steak, asap. These 3 crazy kids are too Hollywood fierce this week. And why are Americans so obsessed with blood? Kiwi, Swedish and British blood at that. And these nations are America’s allies in real life, so go figure!
In other news, here’s how you voted our top ten news choices. The guest commentary post today (embedded) is laugh-out-lady funny today. I don’t know who wrote it, but it brought a smile for poetic chortles purposes.
1. True Blood Rolling Stone marketing ferocity, sings Pump Up The Volume.
2. Nikki Six still holds a flame for Kat Von D
3. Justin Gaston‘s Psalmist-King‘s ink is Hollywood newsworthy
4. جلوههایی از کرامت ها و ساده زیستی مقام
5. Team Alex Meraz
6. Hot Pick: Beyonce & Jay-Z at a restaurant
7. Angelina Jolie is triumphant in Salt
8. Michael Vartan joins Zoe Saldana & Cliff Curtis
9. An Author’s Sugar & Spice Style with Lauren Conrad
10. Humor: Johnny Depp will head to Hawaii for Pirates of the Caribbean
Guest humor: Will the real Carrie Bradshaw of the Middle East please come forward?
And as my bro, Cliff Curtis, Hollywood’s Maori King, cut his hori chops acting in both The Piano and Whalerider playing a Maori roles, garnering Oscar nods/ or helping garner winners, here’s two trailers just for brotha Cliff too–in recognition of all that Maori have gifted to Hollywood, to date. These films by women New Zealand filmmakers, starring Maori, are just so pretty.
Because of a tremendous amount of love and a lot of grace that I feel I never deserved, I wake up every morning–most days happy–having the unique opportunity to be currently listed as a Struggling American-Maori writer of sorts. From this position of privilege as a Maori who happens to live in the Entertainment Capitol of the World. I have learned that it’s the journey of being an indigenous peoples’ storyteller that is the blessing and I can add that these people are my filmmaking people in our ‘Maori Hollywood’ active city too, 2010′s. Mauri Ora.
It is an honor to bear witness to this filmic tradition in Hollywood California, via a zero budget blog pressed fresh daily often against great odds, to herald the dreams of Maori and Kiwi filmmakers, yet to come.
In the 2010′s, Maori fusion filmmaking is so hot in Hollywood. Just look at Maori influences in Avatar to get a picture of that box office and record setting, cinematic Maori potential. Wow! With special thanks to Cliff and Keisha Castle Hughes, and my creative writing tutor Witi Ihimaera today for the inspiration to breathe, dream and be here at the help of friends and family.
Bloody good stuff! Thanks
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 8.18.10~
Posted by horiwood on August 19, 2010 in Alexander Skarsgard, America, Anna Paquin, Authors, Cliff Curtis, Entertainment Celebrity News, Entertainment News, Holly Hunter, Hollywood Entertainment News, Hollywood History, Horiwood Top 10, Jane Campion, Keisha Castle Hughes, Magazine Covers, Maori, New Zealand, Stephen Moyer, True Blood, Witi Ihimaera, Women
Tags: Alexander Skarsgard, America, Anna Paquin, Architectural Design, Authors, Cliff Curtis, Entertainment News, Harvey Kietal, Holly Hunter, Hollywood Entertainment News, Hollywood History, Hollywood Today, Hori = Maori, Horiwood Top 10, Indigenous Thinking, Jane Campion, Keisha Castle Hughes, Magazine Covers, Maori, Maori Filmmaking, New Zealand, Oscar Winner, Pop Culture Commentary, Rawene Paratene, Rawiri Paratene, Sam Neil, Stephen Moyer, True Blood, Witi Ihimaera, Women, Writers