Beyonce wrapped her last Auckland gig on Saturday night and raced off stage to fly out of the country by private jet. But waiting for her in the wings were surprise gifts by acclaimed Maori artists and an impromptu private haka led by Stan Walker. The queen of pop was rendered speechless and welled up with tears - but not before attempting the war dance herself.
"It was a truly epic experience," Maori fashion designer Kiri Nathan told The Diary. She presented Beyonce with a contemporary korowai (Maori cloak) she had made herself, and a pounamu (greenstone) piece carved by her husband, Jason, who had also made a pounamu toki for Beyonce's 21-month-old daughter Blue Ivy.
"I said a quiet karakia as I approached her and told her that I had made some taonga for her so she will always be connected to Aotearoa, the people, the land. I placed the korowai on her, and Jason gave her the pounamu, and I explained their significance," Nathan said.
"Then I presented her with a toki for Blue Ivy, which was cut from the same greenstone. I said, 'This will keep you connected to each other and to New Zealand, and it will keep you safe on your journey together'. I gave her a hongi and we hugged and she burst into tears. She was just so overwhelmed and moved."
Moments earlier, Walker - who opened Beyonce's Auckland concerts and will do so in Sydney next week, stepping in for Iggy Azalea who has pulled out - led an impromptu haka for the 32-year-old star with members of the stage crew. "She didn't know about it and was completely surprised when she ran off stage and was suddenly welcomed by the haka. The energy was so intense - she started doing the haka back!" said a rep for Sony, the label representing Beyonce and Walker.
Beyonce bans all crew membersfrom taking photos backstage, but a mobile phone video of Walker leading the crew in a haka with a clearly jubilant Beyonce joining in has been posted to YouTube.
"The room was filled with mana and respect for her. Everyone was emotional," Nathan said. "Beyonce was so overwhelmed by the haka and the gifts, she couldn't stop thanking us all. She knew the significance and was really genuine in her gratitude, it was all from the heart."
Nathan said she pulled an all-nighter to make the cloak in time, and her husband raced to finish the pieces of pounamu for mother and daughter. "Her production manager said, 'Hey, what about the dad? Jay-Z will want some of this too!"'
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The absence of the mayor and mayoress provided the chance for much chitchat on the sex scandal that gripped Auckland last week.
Julie Christie joined National MPs Murray McCully and Gerry Brownlee. Sam Hayes, Candy Lane, Willie Apiata VC, Lisa Carrington, Rob Waddell, Inga Tuigamala and Sir Graham Henry were there too.
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Glenn took a swipe at the Government and said the annual $500,000 scholarship was about supporting future generations of athletes. "It was either this or a Rolls-Royce, Yvette," he added.
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