File:1973 letter requesting presence of Māori performing arts group at opening of Sydney Opera House (48834570348).jpg

In 1973 the Minister of Māori Affairs was asked by the New South Wales government for a Māori cultural group to perform at the opening of the Sydney Opera House. Henry May, Minister for Internal Affairs, recommended that Cabinet give a grant to enable this and asked the committee of the New Zealand Polynesian Festival, now known as Te Matatini, to recommend a suitable group for the occasion. The winners of the Festival that year, Upper Hutt based group Māwai Hakona, were selected and performed at the televised opening in front of thousands of spectators. Queen Elizabeth II was also present and undertook the official opening.

The opening of the Sydney Opera House was the culmination of a process of design and construction which lasted for nearly two decades. Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, the building is considered an international icon and is one of the first examples of the use of computer-aided design to design its complex shape. Its construction however was significantly hampered by huge cost over-runs and a public breaking of the working relationship between Utzon and the Ministry of Public Works. Utzon was not invited to the opening ceremony as a result.

This document comes from a series of political papers from the Rt. Hon. Norman Kirk, former Prime Minister of New Zealand. It is comprised of miscellaneous political and personal records, and includes all types of files, including political (national and international), constituent, Party political, personal, and private business.

Archives reference: AAWV 23583 Kirk1 1 (R23925646)