Group stranded, worries over older members
AUCKLAND - A Wallisian performance group from New Caledonia stranded in New Zealand will be without accommodation after yesterday, and concerns are growing for the health of its older members.
When the Ta’ofi Ke Ma’u performance troupe left their home island of Wallis in the Pacific, they had no idea that what was going to be a nineday trip would become a trip with no definite end date in sight.
The group of 25, who travelled to Auckland to perform at the Pasifika Festival on
March 13, have been stranded since COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings forced its cancellation.
“We were so excited to come here, and for most of us it was the first trip outside of Noumea,” said Niuola Petelo, 64, the group’s president.
Luckily for them, their local community contact Ena Manuireva organised an impromptu performance for the troupe at the Auckland Museum the same weekend, in lieu of Pasifika.
“It was a good compensation for the cancellation of Pasifika, at least we got to perform with the Tahitians and Hawaiians.”
With one good memory in the bag, the group has since been staying at an Auckland hotel that’s been kind enough to extend their stay.
However, that ended yesterday and they’re expected to vacate.
“We can’t really afford staying at $109 a night.”
The troupe are desperately seeking help to find an option while they may have to wait out the lockdown period. With marae closing to visitors, even fewer options are available for the group.