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My association with Survival International goes back to 1983 When I first went to the World Music Fair MIDEM In Cannes, South France. I was invited to give a talk to the Ethnic Minorities Unit at the Greater London Council. At that time we were canvassing to have the 40% NZ Government sales tax on New Zealand and Maori language recordings abolished. Survival supported our campaign with Letters of protest to the House of Commons, and to David Lange and the Labour Government. I visited the House of Commons meeting Neil Kinnoch and when the Patea Maori Club and I toured Britain with the "PO E THE MUSICAL/THE CONCERT tour in 1985, we were once again guests at the House of Commons. Survival International were also instrumental in stopping the sale of a Mokomokai at the London auction house of Bonhams and this has since been returned to New Zealand and buried. The head was once the property of the Tavistock Family. My continuing association with Survival resulted in Letters of support to the Board of Trustee's of the American Museum of Natural History in our attempts to have the Horatio Gordan Robley Collection of 35 Mokomokai returned to New Zealand. Our working relationship and support for their important work for Indigenoue Peoples Rights continues.
NA Maui Dalvanius Prime, Director MOKOMOKAI EDUCATION TRUST For the latest in whats happening in their campaigns go to: http://www.survival-international.org/ |