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David Bowie in 1983 (Photo: jenniferrt66)

Last Saturday Radio New Zealand broadcast a short documentary on the visit of David Bowie to Takapuwahia Marae, north of Wellington.  Bowie was on tour in New Zealand promoting the Serious Moonlight album, after 6 months on the road. Just a couple of dates in Southeast Asia were left before the band returned home for Christmas.

Apparently this was the first time that a touring international artist had been given a powhiri (welcome) on a marae in New Zealand. (Bob Marley was given a massive welcome and powhiri in 1979, but at his hotel in Auckland).  Bowie even wrote a short song of reply for the occasion, which is included in the documentary.

The documentary says a lot about what New Zealand was like in 1983… the visit of one of the biggest pop stars in the world was obviously a big event, and it’s clear how “star-struck” many of the locals were. Indeed, the fact that a radio documentary was commissioned for the 25th anniversary of the event suggest things haven’t changed that much.

There are some some pretty classic strong New Zealand accents during the interviews, too. I know I probably sound like that too, but after almost 3 years away from home, our local dialect starts to sound a little bit strange…