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Members of the Navajo and Hopi tribes were brought out to New Zealand by Paramount ‘Exploiteers’ Franklyn Barrett and Reg Kelly to promote the Paramount Picture ‘The Vanishing Race’, based on a book by Zane Grey. The picture was shown in Rotorua, Wellington and Auckland and attracted large crowds. The group had earlier toured Australia.
The Film Weekly reported that on 19 January 1927 “(f)or the first time in the history of New Zealand, the Maoris arranged a wonderful welcome to Paramount’s Red Indians on the occasion of the opening of ‘The Vanishing Race’ at Rotorua.” (The Film Weekly, 17 February 1927, p. 25).
A banner hanging from the side of a bus reads: “Red Indians ‘United’ en Route to Rotorua”. At Whakarewarewa several Chiefs pose with young Māori children in front of a pataka. A pōwhiri for the group; men’s haka performance and the waving of greenery by other Māori members during the pōwhiri. Guide Susan Hunt escorts the group during their visit to Whakarewarewa. The white-haired kaumatua leading the group at 30sec has been identified (by one of his descendants) as Koro Taua Tutanekai of Ngāti Whakaue.
The haka whakatū waewae is “He puta aha te puta”.
The Vanishing Race was the international release title of The Vanishing American (George B. Seitz, USA, 1925), a liberal western with Native Americans in the supporting cast. Charles Stevens, the actor who claimed to be the grandson of Apache chief Geronimo, was among them - although he was not part of the promotional tour of Australasia.
The party of ten, according to the NZ Truth in its 9 December 1926 edition, included “Chief Se-ump-te-wa (Blooming Flower)” and “little eleven-year-old Nasjah, the Indian boy movie star”.