Las Vegas "Walk of Stars" Recipients Mary & the Maori Hi Five show bands
Dane and The Whaleriders A Maori reggae - blues - jazz - funk - rock band
King of the Cook Islands Freddie Tira from Comedy to Opera - The Ultimate Showman
Stars of the Maori Quin Tikis Showband Freddie Summers& Kevin Rongonui New Zealand's Only Showband Still Rockin' After 45 Plus Years Mahora, Billy, and the Maori Volcanics
Rim D Paul Star of the Maori Hi Quins Showband
Pacific Percussionist Extraordinaire Billy Nuku and Tania Robin - Te Reo Maori Drums of Polynesia
Featured comedian balladeer vocalist Star of "Mary & The Maori Hi Five Showband" King Solomon (Solly) Pohatu
Featured impressionist cabaret dancer Star of "Mary & the Maori Hi Five Showband" Wes Epae
The Star of
"Mary & The Maori Hi Five Showband" Mary (Mere Nimmo) McMullan Group and Cast Finale Reprise Haka Finale! Las Vegas Maori Rugby Club
Hi everyone! Kia Ora and Viva from Las Vegas...
Mary and the Maori Hi Five want to Thank everyone for a wonderful series
of events we had in Las Vegas from Wednesday, November 11 - Sunday,
November 15, 2009 for the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.
Press Release
MARY AND THE MAORI HI FIVE RECEIVE STAR ON THE STRIPLAS VEGAS STAR FOR THE MAORI SHOWBAND WAS UNVEILED
ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF NEW YORK-NEW YORK
LAS VEGAS - Nov. 13, 2009 - Mary and the Maori Hi Five showband have been awarded the 40th star on the Strip by the Las Vegas Walk of Stars Committee. The presentation ceremony was held on the Brooklyn Bridge in front of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009.
John Mataira, the New Zealand Consul-General and key note speaker received a traditional Maori welcome. On Friday, the star was embedded in the sidewalk in front of the hotel. The group was the first of the Maori showbands to leave New Zealand in the 1960s.
Mary and the Maori Hi Five toured Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Manila, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii, London, United Kingdom, Europe and Scandinavia. Coming to the United States in 1965, they worked the Nevada circuit in Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe; while doing side tours in Europe, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Bahamas. In Las Vegas, they worked at the Sahara, Thunderbird, Hacienda, Tally Ho and Caesars Palace and at Harrah's Club in Reno and Tahoe. They disbanded in 1971.
The group worked with many famous stars including: Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Gia Mione, Sam Butera, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Harry James, Louis Armstrong, Mel Torme, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr., Harry Belafonte and many others; but most notably, they headlined with the Beatles in Hong Kong in 1964.
The group will be featured in the second part of a 12-part series being filmed by Crown Media for a New Zealand Maori television program "Unsung" (Heroes of Maori Music) and Frontier Films will also be filming for Australian television program called “Kia Ora Mate,” where Maori entertainers will salute Aussies for helping to start their careers.
One member of the group, Robert Hemi Te Miha passed away in November 2007. Of the remaining members, Kae Pohe is the only one living in Las Vegas and Solly Pohatu the only one still in New Zealand. A welcome reception was held on Wednesday night at a private estate. The camaraderie even to this day is undeniable and they are proud to be representing the Maori race. At each event, Maori tradition played a key role.
Photo Credit: Glenn Pinkerton, Las Vegas News Bureau 85978-168a1.JPG
Mary and the Maori Hi Five Las Vegas Star Ceremony at New York New York Hotel Nov. 13, 2009 Pictured on the sidewalk below the Brooklyn Bridge, left to right, Wes Epae, Mary McMullan, Kawana Pohe, Solly Pohatu, Peter Wolland, Paddy TeTai.
Photo Credit: Fred Couzens, Las Vegas Tribune IMG_4955.JPG
Mary and the Maori Hi Five Las Vegas Star Ceremony on Brooklyn Bridge, New York New York Hotel Nov. 12, 2009 Pictured after the unveiling, left to right, Paddy TeTai, Peter Wolland, Mary McMullan, Kawana Pohe, Solly Pohatu, Wes Epae.
Photo Credit: Fred Couzens, Las Vegas Tribune IMG_4912.JPG
Mary and the Maori Hi Five Las Vegas Star Ceremony on Brooklyn Bridge, New York New York Hotel Nov. 12, 2009
Pictured: Dane Ngahuka (left) and John Mataira, New Zealand Consul-General. Traditional Maori welcome Wero and Hongi
Photo Credit: Fred Couzens, Las Vegas Tribune IMG_4949.JPG
Mary and the Maori Hi Five Las Vegas Star Ceremony on Brooklyn Bridge, New York New York Hotel Nov. 12, 2009
Pictured: Greeting audience at ceremony Mary McMullan with group. Left to right; Kawana Pohe, Wes Epae, Peter Wolland, Paddy TeTai and Solly Pohatu.
Photo Credit: Fred Couzens, Las Vegas Tribune IMG_5028.JPG
Mary and the Maori Hi Five Las Vegas Star Ceremony at New York New York Hotel Nov. 13, 2009 Pictured on the sidewalk below the Brooklyn Bridge. Foreground, John Mataira, New Zealand Consul-General. Standing left to right Wes Epae, Mary McMullan, Kawana Pohe, Solly Pohatu, Peter Wolland, Paddy TeTai.
