There were no border controls or passports in sight when a handful of international competitors stepped up to the mark
and joined in on a powerful waiata marking the official welcome for the 2012 Golden Shears World champs in Masterton.
Competitors, managers and supporters, all waving the flags of 25 countries at the 15th World Shearing Championships were
taken by buses to Te Ore Ore Marae late yesterday for a powhiri. (A traditional maori welcome ceremony.)
After a rousing Whaikōrero (formal speech) made by top kiwi shearing commentator Koro Mullins, it was time for a waiata
(song) in reply.
Golden Shears President Mavis Mullins said for a brief moment she was concerned she wouldn’t have the numbers to add to
her voice, but it quickly became an international affair.
“I was looking around and then people just started to join me. Former world woolhandling champion Aroha Garvin from
Australia, former Greytown man Neil Perry, representing Norway in shearing, Welsh woolhandler Gwenan Paewai and the Cook
Islands team stepped in. They all have kiwi connections but it was truly an international affair.”
The 52nd Golden Shears is now in its second day with the first day of competition also underway in the World Shearing
Championships as international blade shearers make their way up to the boards this afternoon.
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ENDS