HEIWA 2024

Sunday 7th January 2024 was a glorious summer day on our beautiful island. Emily Bay was a spectacular setting for Heiwa Norfolk Island 2024.

The 12-noon brief and lovely opening ceremony and the song to our foremothers set the scene. The wa’a racing started the day - spirited and completely unbiased commentary from our MC’s Kym Adams and Trent Christian had the spectators cheering (and chuckling) urging their teams in.

Lieg Race didn’t draw the numbers of previous years, but du mine - dem Kwentl was very well represented and dar d thing matter most to many.

Strorng salan saw some amazing physiques and awesome lifting. A women and men’s category based on time was thrilling.

And through all this from 12:15pm and for the rest of the day, the NI Pistol Association were serving up delicious fish and chips. Thanks yorlye - and well done.

The tug-o-war is always always a very very noisy and popular event. The McCoys not entering a team in this event gave the 2023 tug-o-war champions, the Christian mob, a great advantage of one less tug (uncharacteristic).

The story telling is a great time for all to reminisce, to hear new things and to be motivated to maintain a kam fram. Thank you to our eight orators for personal, humorous, important and heartfelt stories. Ken Weslake for the Quintals - confirming possibly, why the Quintal colour is black and that he once did one idiocy thing; Ken Christian on his early days pre-Anson Bay at Karskade (no klorth iin Fata Fata - imagine); Liz Unkles nee Adams for reminiscence of everybody’s much loved Tutta - Liz’s beautiful and talented grandmother; John McCoy’s heartfelt reminder of whose aklan - how goode; Cherie Nobbs reminisced on her personal times with her Grandma - the clever, witty and widely loved Girlie; and I sorry, I naewa ya all because I haew a duck way f twenty mennett.

It never fails to amaze that the show tent each year has a diverse exhibition of woven articles and carved pieces. Added to this is the very popular weaving display and workshop by Colleen Crane. Also in the culture and traditions area, Moonie and Edie Christian, had one dem yollo en a pan fe make a plunn pancake for all to sample and/or itt plentii.

Then followed drumming, dancing and singing. Papahaaia Drum troupe never miss a beat - mesmerizing as they move from piece to piece all of them knowing by heart each item. The song group Porpieh Jam provided chant and song - thank yu Kath, Sue, Anson, Oihanu, Natalia, Alison and John. The Bauntii Byuutis dancers , all age groups were as always fabulous. Highlight was the senior Byuutis showcasing their dance and costume for she Festival of Pacific Arts where they will participate in June in Hawaii. Another stunning dance group was Sister. Four sets of sisters, some home on holiday from Uni, all in perfect unison after only a short space of time back together. Thanks Ivey & Charli, Lill & Cass, Amelia & Jordan and Eloise.

Closing began with a tribute to our foremothers from Gaye Evans; a brief recitation from twelve of our young ladies on each of our twelve foremothers; presenting and laying wreathes with twelve elders ladies and wa’a members. Always beautiful. Then the announcement of the day’s winners and the Champion.

1st Quintal with 99 points, 2nd Christian 84 points, 3rd Nobb's 56, 4th Adam's 50, 5th Evans 46, 6th McCoy's 36, 7th Buffett 26, 8th Young 18.

WA’A Christian wa'a team taking the prize with a time of 03:15:00, 2nd Buffett 03:69:41; 3rd Nobb's 04:05:48..

STRORNG GAIRL Ashley Christian winning with a time of 0:21:64 and Anson for the Christian family winning the men's with a time of 0:07:94. Flynn McCowan 2nd for the Quintal family with 0:08:16. Buffett and Adam's equal 3rd with 0:08:47.

Quintal's won the story telling, equal 1st in Weaving with the Evans family, equal 1st in woodcarving with the McCoy's and iwi salan tug of war.

TUG-o-WAR Christians - winning this with strong woman and man, big salan tug of war and fruit carrier with 24 points; Quintals second in big salan tug of war, strong man and fruit carrier with 21 points. Christians had no iwi salan tug of war team or woodcarving display cost them points.

So many salan f thank - Cher , Catherine Stone, Shane Wallis for the wa'a time keeping; Lance Miller and the NI wa'a outrigger club; Peter Christian-Bailey,Tim Rodgers , Dylan and Sharon Menzies, Hayden and Rose Evans for officiating the fruit carrier race and tug of war; Colleen Crane for her basket weaving display; Edie and Kevin Christian for the green plun tasting; the Norfolk Island Pistol club for the sweet wettles, Alison and Adam for the drinks tent; all the judges, for the weaving and woodcarving and the story telling; Amanda King for the rubbish bins, Moochy, Simon, Mich and Tae for getting the electricity set up... Robin, Sue, Pauline, Oihanu, Anson and John and the Foremothers for the opening ceremony; Kymmy Adams MC with Trent and Sally and their expertise with the sound system. All those involved in making the beautiful hei and wreaths; to Robin and team for decorating. The Baunti Beauties and them Sistas for show casing ucklens beautiful island dancing; the young ladies who spoke about their tupuna wahine; Riley, Jordan and Nate for blowing the conch shells; Bart Murray for the marquees; to all that represented their families and made it such a great day; to the community who came to watch and support the day and to all those who helped set up and pack up. A big thankyou to the Norfolk Island Council of Elders and all awas elders who help make the Heiwa.