Young Polynesians

The Young Polynesians were formed in Surfers Paradise, Australia, in 1975. The idea to form the Young Polynesians was

born in Sue & Len Ormsby's kitchen one Sunday afternoon, during a conversation between them and Annette and Dale McGifford.

Suggesting they get all their friends children together from the various Maori Showbands that migrated to Australia in the 60's, who were now living on the Gold Coast .

From there it was taken to Nuki Waaka (ex-band leader of the Maori Volcanics) and Noni Wharekura to ask if they would tutor the children and to the childrens parents who rallied around to make all their maori and polynesian costumes. Sisters, Maureen Ngatai and Colleen Teoka were invaluable with their knowledge of Tahitian costumes, as they lived in Tahiti for some time when their husbands Benny Ngatai and Anzac Teoka played there. A lot of the workshops and practises were held at John and Leone Burkhardts house.

The idea behind forming the Young Polynesians was to help these mostly Australian born maori children, learn about their heritage and culture. Later on, some followed in their parents footsteps to become professional entertainers.

Nuki Waaka & Phil Wharekura at Young Polynesians at Toombul Shopping Centre.

Toombul Shopping Centre Anzac Teoka (ex Quin Tikis) on drums.

Len Ormsby on guitar.

Young Polynesians Sundale Shopping Centre. Dean Wharekura in the forefront.

Tony Teoka & Darrin Rehu-Ormsby Janine Tira, Karen Rehu & Linda Rehu at Tiki Village,

at Iluka Hotel, Surfers Paradise. Surfers Paradise.

New members join the Young Polynesians

Junior Waaka and Janine Tira on Surfers Paradies Beach posing for publicity shots for the Young Polynesians

Karen Rehu - Iluka Hotel, 1976

Junior Waaka - Iluka Hotel, 1976

Dean, Zane, Junior, Geoff & Phil at Tauranga Marae on NZ tour.

Young Polynesians on NZ Tour at a marae in Taupo.

Karen Rehu at Iluka Hotel Surfers Paradise.

Linda Rehu and Junior Waaka performing stick games

Iluka Hotel Surfers Paradise.

Young Polynesians rehearsing at Tina Cooks house

Powhiri with guest and Karen Rehu at Pacific Hotel, Southport, Gold Coast,

Janine Tira at Iluka Hotel, Surfers Paradise.

Linda Rehu & Karen Rehu performing at Toombul Shopping Centre, Brisbane.

Len Ormsby on Guitar.

Linda Rehu, Junior Waaka, Karen Rehu & Phil Wharekura at Toombul Shopping Centre.

Young Polynesians on NZ Tour at Wellington Marae.

Young Polynesians on NZ Tour at Whakatane Marae.

Some of the new boys to joing Young Polynesians along with

some original members.

Janine Tira, Karen Rehu & Kiani Cook doing the long poi at Pacific Hotel, Southport.

Some of the Young Polynesians perform on Brisbane Television Show.

News clip in Gold Coast Bulletin of Cemone Tira and Chantal Ngatai performing at Iluka Hotel.

News Clip in Rotorua Daily Post of Dean Wharekura

on Young Polynesians performance at Tudor Towers.

News Clip in Gold Coast Bulletin. Picture of

Linda Rehu performing maori stick game.

News clip in Gold Coast Bulletin of Young Polynesians performing at Pacific Hotel, Southport.

News clip in the Gold Coast Bulleting on Chantal Ngatai and the leader and tutor of the Young Polynesians,

Nuki Waaka performing at Pacific Hotel, Southport.

The Young Polynesians were based on the Gold Coast and were a very popular and succesful young group during their time performing.

Their backing band were: Len Ormsby (Peter Nelson & the Castaways), Anzac Teoka (Quin Tikis), Ben Ngatai (Maori Premiers)

& Nuki Waaka (Maori Volcanics) their tutor and compere.

The original Young Polynesians were:

Phillip & Dean Wharekura (father Wi Wharekura of the Howard Morrison Quartet)

Shane, Dean, Dot and Lenore Waaka (father Gugi Waaka of the Quin Tikis)

Junior Waaka (parents Mahora & Nuki Waaka of the Maori Volcanics)

Janine , Cemone & Glen Tira (father Freddie Tira, Noel Tio Trio & solo vocalist)

Karen, Linda and Darrin Rehu (father Rufus Rehu of the Maori Premiers and Quin Tikis)

Tony, John and Anzac Teoka (father Anzac Teoka of the Quin Tikis)

Chantal, Danny and Dean Ngatai (father Benny Ngatai of the Maori Premiers)

Kiani & Jason Cook

Jason & Leticia Burkhadt

Glenda Wynyard

Zane Bruce

Damian, Denys and David Mateparae ( father Sam Mateparae of the Quin Tikis)

and many others to later follow.

A big thanks to Ricky James (from Maori Showband The Castaways) who got the Young Polynesians their first regular gig at Iluka Hotel, Surfers Paradise. He was the entertainment manager at the time. Thanks to Geoff our lighting guy and many others who supported the Young Polynesians.


	Young Polynesians Home MAORI SHOW BANDS FROM THE 60's The Young Polynesians were formed in Surfers Paradise, Australia, in 1975. The idea to form the Young Polynesians was born in Sue & Len Ormsby's kitchen one Sunday afternoon, during a conversation between them and Annette and Dale McGifford. Suggesting they get all their friends children together from the various Maori Showbands that migrated to Australia in the 60's, who were now living on the Gold Coast . From there it was taken to Nuki Waaka (ex-band leader of the Maori Volcanics) and Noni Wharekura to ask if they would tutor the children and to the childrens parents who rallied around to make all their maori and polynesian costumes. Sisters, Maureen Ngatai and Colleen Teoka were invaluable with their knowledge of Tahitian costumes, as they lived in Tahiti for some time when their husbands Benny Ngatai and Anzac Teoka played there. A lot of the workshops and practises were held at John and Leone Burkhardts house. The idea behind forming the Young Polynesians was to help these mostly Australian born maori children, learn about their heritage and culture. Later on, some followed in their parents footsteps to become professional entertainers. Nuki Waaka & Phil Wharekura at Young Polynesians at Toombul Shopping Centre. Toombul Shopping Centre Anzac Teoka (ex Quin Tikis) on drums. Len Ormsby on guitar. Young Polynesians Sundale Shopping Centre. Dean Wharekura in the forefront. Tony Teoka & Darrin Rehu-Ormsby Janine Tira, Karen Rehu & Linda Rehu at Tiki Village, at Iluka Hotel, Surfers Paradise. Surfers Paradise. New members join the Young Polynesians Junior Waaka and Janine Tira on Surfers Paradies Beach posing for publicity shots for the Young Polynesians Karen Rehu - Iluka Hotel, 1976 Junior Waaka - Iluka Hotel, 1976 Dean, Zane, Junior, Geoff & Phil at Tauranga Marae on NZ tour. Young Polynesians on NZ Tour at a marae in Taupo. Karen Rehu at Iluka Hotel Surfers Paradise. Linda Rehu and Junior Waaka performing stick games Iluka Hotel Surfers Paradise. Young Polynesians rehearsing at Tina Cooks house Powhiri with guest and Karen Rehu at Pacific Hotel, Southport, Gold Coast, Janine Tira at Iluka Hotel, Surfers Paradise. Linda Rehu & Karen Rehu performing at Toombul Shopping Centre, Brisbane. Len Ormsby on Guitar. Linda Rehu, Junior Waaka, Karen Rehu & Phil Wharekura at Toombul Shopping Centre. Young Polynesians on NZ Tour at Wellington Marae. Young Polynesians on NZ Tour at Whakatane Marae. Some of the new boys to joing Young Polynesians along with some original members. Janine Tira, Karen Rehu & Kiani Cook doing the long poi at Pacific Hotel, Southport. Some of the Young Polynesians perform on Brisbane Television Show. News clip in Gold Coast Bulletin of Cemone Tira and Chantal Ngatai performing at Iluka Hotel. News Clip in Rotorua Daily Post of Dean Wharekura on Young Polynesians performance at Tudor Towers. News Clip in Gold Coast Bulletin. Picture of Linda Rehu performing maori stick game. News clip in Gold Coast Bulletin of Young Polynesians performing at Pacific Hotel, Southport. News clip in the Gold Coast Bulleting on Chantal Ngatai and the leader and tutor of the Young Polynesians, Nuki Waaka performing at Pacific Hotel, Southport. The Young Polynesians were based on the Gold Coast and were a very popular and succesful young group during their time performing. Their backing band were: Len Ormsby (Peter Nelson & the Castaways), Anzac Teoka (Quin Tikis), Ben Ngatai (Maori Premiers) & Nuki Waaka (Maori Volcanics) their tutor and compere. The original Young Polynesians were: Phillip & Dean Wharekura (father Wi Wharekura of the Howard Morrison Quartet) Shane, Dean, Dot and Lenore Waaka (father Gugi Waaka of the Quin Tikis) Junior Waaka (parents Mahora & Nuki Waaka of the Maori Volcanics) Janine , Cemone & Glen Tira (father Freddie Tira, Noel Tio Trio & solo vocalist) Karen, Linda and Darrin Rehu (father Rufus Rehu of the Maori Premiers and Quin Tikis) Tony, John and Anzac Teoka (father Anzac Teoka of the Quin Tikis) Chantal, Danny and Dean Ngatai (father Benny Ngatai of the Maori Premiers) Kiani & Jason Cook Jason & Leticia Burkhadt Glenda Wynyard Zane Bruce Damian, Denys and David Mateparae ( father Sam Mateparae of the Quin Tikis) and many others to later follow. A big thanks to Ricky James (from Maori Showband The Castaways) who got the Young Polynesians their first regular gig at Iluka Hotel, Surfers Paradise. He was the entertainment manager at the time. Thanks to Geoff our lighting guy and many others who supported the Young Polynesians.