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RNZ News
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Witi Ihimaera - reclaiming his reo at 80
Photo: Phil Johnson Legendary author Witi Ihimaera is the man behind Whale Rider and Pounamu Pounamu. Already a celebrated master of the pen, at the age of 80 he felt a yearning to master something new and learn te reo Māori. While many people assumed he could already speak it, Witi grew up without becoming fluent in his tūpuna reo, encouraged instead to pursue achievements in the Pākehā world. After wrestling with deeply personal challenges that had held him back for decades, he took the leap and enrolled for an infamously difficult year-long crash course, with full-immersion lessons conducted in Māori only. His journey has been documented in a new podcast, Witi Underwater , by Te Pūrongo Productions.
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
'Come for the haka, stay for the healing': Auckland celebrates haka without the competition
Among the rōpū who took the stage at Tāmaki Hakangāhau was the Auckland Anglican Māori Club, with five kaihaka performing who have been there since Sir Kingi Matutaera Ihaka founded the club in 1967. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises Tāmaki Makaurau came alive on Saturday as haka took centre stage at Spark Arena for Tāmaki Hakangāhau - a celebration of te reo , Māori culture and expression rather than competition. Carrying the wairua of Te Matatini 2025 , the kaupapa brought together kaihaka, whānau, rangatahi and tamariki under the banner: "Come for the haka, stay for the healing, leave as whānau." From seasoned performers like five-time Te Matatini champions Te Waka Huia (pictured) to haka-loving tamariki taking the stage for the first time – Hakangāhau brought together a full spectrum of talent. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises Te Waka Huia leader and haka expert Tāpeta Wehi said the event was a reminder of what haka can hold. "It's about kotahitanga. This is our space to stand together. To celebrate who we are." It was a chance to honour te ao Māori on their own terms - without the pressure of competition, he said. "We've all just come off the whakataetae (competitive) stage, and the whole wairua is different. Whakataetae, you're pretty intense, everyone's a little bit uptight, but at whakangahau you can go out there and have a bit of fun." Wehi said the kaupapa also offered space to nurture new talent and pass the legacy of haka on to the next generation. "We had a few young ones with us today; this is the time to introduce them to the big stage and celebrate together. "Look around - the sun's shining, the young people are here. We're celebrating our culture. We're celebrating our reo." Te Waka Huia leader and haka expert Tāpeta Wehi said Tāmaki Hakangāhau was a place for Māori to stand together and celebrate who they are as a people. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises Wehi, like many kaihaka, performed alongside his whānau, including his six-week-old mokopuna. "The waiata we were doing was about our tamariki and mokopuna - the future of who we are," he said. "I brought my mokopuna out to the front because she's going to grow up in that world." "She's going to grow up in te ao Māori, in te ao haka. We grew up in that world, and this is just a time to pass it all on to our mokopuna. They're the future." Tāmaki Hakangākau also celebrated te ao Māori off-stage, hosting a kaupapa Māori market featuring kai, taonga, kākahu and fundraising stalls in support of local whānau, kura and Māori-led initiatives. Among those fundraising were Adria and Gianne from Te Kōhanga Reo o Kākāriki, who were offering $5 moko - glitter options included. Te Kōhanga Reo o Kākāriki were offering tāmoko to whānau at Tāmaki Hakangāhau - raising pūtea for their kōhanga. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ They said the day created a space for tamariki to see te ao Māori celebrated unapologetically. "It's really nice to be in a Māori environment, to be with your own people," Adria said. "It's also really nice for those who aren't Māori to come and be with us too, in a Māori environment." Gianne said the kaupapa created an environment where tamariki could see themselves reflected proudly on stage and in the crowd. "All of these things come naturally to all of us, especially being in kōhanga reo. "This is what our kids see and breathe, live every day. So, it's normal, normal to me. Therefore, it's important to remain in these spaces." Nga Tumanako who placed 3rd at Te Matatini 2025 took the stage at Tāmaki Hakangāhau with young and passionate kaihaka. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises Adria said it was also beautiful to see tamariki wearing moko proudly. "It's so fun and they love it. Why would you take something away from our tamariki that they're enjoying? Why would you disparage that? It's unnecessary." Gianne added that no matter what ministers say in Parliament - referencing NZ First leader Winston Peters calling Rawiri Waititi's mataora "scribbles" - they will continue to be unapologetically Māori. "And we're trying to normalise scribbles. It's beautiful. Come and tautoko our mokopuna and scribble the world!" Ākonga from Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa, Rawiri Howard, Terina Taia, Charlie O'Sullivan and Jaksyn Hepi-Ngarongo. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ Ākonga on their reo Māori journey from Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa were also in attendance, supporting their kaiako and soaking in the performances. "The muscle fritters were really good but I loved watching the babies performing with the ropū," Terina Taia said, adding that it was heartwarming to see kaumātua and tamariki alike on stage. "It was also really cool to be able to understand the kaupapa," "Being able to understand the kōrero from the kaimihi without asking someone else - that was amazing." Fellow ākonga Jaksyn Hepi-Ngarongo said while he didn't catch every word, he felt the essence through the wairua. "I didn't understand some of it, but I could feel it. That was my understanding - I could feel the meaning." The group said it was a day of being proud to be Māori. Te Poho o Hinekahukura closed their performance with a mihi to Te Pāti Māori, singing the waiata 'Be Proud to be Māori.' Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises On the day, many haka rōpū didn't shy away from politics, some directing pointed messages at government ministers, including Winston Peters. Wehi said the stage was the right place to share those narratives. "Our action song was about this - the kōhanga reo movement, the kura kaupapa, and our children," he said. Despite some of the "low blows" Māori have faced this year, Wehi said the community had only grown stronger. "We're strong people, we're resilient. And this is what we're all about - keep moving, whānau. Kotahitanga, unity, is what's gonna get us over the line." Another key message across performances was the importance of voting, with many rōpū encouraging Māori to "kaua e nōti, puta ki te pōti" ahead of the upcoming election. "Kua tae te wā. This is the time. We have to vote. We saw what's been going on in Whare Pāremata (Parliament) this week," Wehi told RNZ. "If you don't vote, then don't moan, whānau." Te Kapa Haka o Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae – the top qualifying rōpū from Tāmaki Makaurau for Mana Kuratahi ki Mataatua 2025 – delivered a powerful bracket on Saturday. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises Haka expert and leader of Te Rōpū Manutaki Paora Sharples said kapa haka remains a powerful platform to reflect the lived realities of Māori. "It's a way of acknowledging what's happening to us as Māori - not just in the past or future, but right now." He said the political kōrero of the week - including comments by NZ First leader Winston Peters and the debate around Te Pāti Māori - echoed in many brackets over the weekend. "It's an example of the power of kapa haka and our ability to keep our language and our customs alive through these forms of expression." Kaihaka from Te Rōpū Manutaki at Tāmaki Hakangāhau 2025. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises Sharples also urged whānau to take that energy to the ballot box. "That's what we should all be doing - voting. That's where it counts. It's no good us marching up and down the street if we don't vote." He encouraged Māori to keep the kōrero going - whether that be online or on stage. "That's something we need to keep talking about in all our different mediums, online, as well as in physical manifestations like kapa haka." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Tāmaki Makaurau to celebrate te ao Māori with kapa haka showcase
This year's Tāmaki Hakangāhau includes 30-minute kapa haka meet-and-greet sessions - a first for the event - giving haka fans a chance to connect directly with performers backstage. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini / Tāmaki Hakangāhau Haka fans will come together this weekend to celebrate te ao Māori through haka, waiata and whanaungatanga at Tāmaki Hakangāhau - a non-competitive kapa haka event designed to bring audiences closer to the action. The kaupapa will take place on Saturday at Auckland's Spark Arena, and feature 10 haka rōpū from the region - ranging from veteran performers to tamariki. It also includes a Māori business hub, and a mass waiata singalong to close the night. One of the event organisers, Moko Templeton, said it aimed to turn spectators into participants, with a focus on connection and community. "This isn't just about watching haka," she said. "It's about feeling the whenua shake beneath you, letting tears flow as waiata fills your heart, and leaving with your wairua cup overflowing. "Whether you're on stage, backstage or in the crowd, you're part of the whānau." Tāmaki Hakangāhau is a non-competitive Kapa Haka event, showcasing rōpū from across the Auckand region. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini / Tāmaki Hakangāhau The kaupapa comes just in time for Matariki celebrations, which Templeton said was a time to reflect, reset and reconnect. "Tāmaki Hakangāhau is our way of wrapping our arms around the entire community." This year's event included 30-minute kapa haka meet-and-greet sessions - a first for the event - giving haka fans a chance to connect directly with performers backstage. Jeff Ruha, kaiako (tutor) of Te Poho o Hinekahukura, said haka had the power to uplift peopel going through tough times. "Every performer stands as medicine for whānau going through hardships," he said. "The world of haka is sustenance - it feeds souls and heals hearts." Organisers say the event is about connection, healing and uplifting the community through haka and waiata. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini / Tāmaki Hakangāhau At the end of the event, more than 100 kaihaka will lead a mass performance of 'Waerea', the karakia made famous by Ngā Tūmanako at Te Matatini in 2019. Attendees were encouraged to bring their poi and join in the singalong. Alongside the performances, the arena will also host a kaupapa Māori market with kai, taonga, kākahu and fundraising stalls supporting local whānau, kura and Māori-led initiatives. The event was supported by Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, Spark Arena, Te Matatini, and mana whenua Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Tāmaki Hakangāhau takes place June 7 at Aucklands Spark Arena. Photo: Supplied / Tāmaki Hakangāhau
RNZ News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
An 'uncle's' Māori-driven rugby camp taking the world by storm
Each camp begins with a kia ora and a hongi. Photo: supplied Admit it, we've all stood in front of the telly to passionately mimic the All Blacks performing "Ka Mate" - and it's not just Kiwis who do. From Aotearoa to Ireland to Japan to Mozambique, Troy Nathan has been touring the world for the past 10 years taking haka and rugby to young, aspiring tamariki of all different backgrounds and cultures. "They want to be future All Blacks regardless of if they're Kiwi or not," Nathan said. "As much as what we're doing overseas promoting our culture and sharing our kaupapa, it's also important for our Māori to understand what we're doing and know how much our culture is appreciated around the world." Haka Rugby Global is a programme with over 30 'born-and-bred Kiwi' coaches, balancing rugby with tikanga Māori, for children aged 8-16 years old. Each camp is kicked off with a pōwhiri, whaikōrero, waiata, and a hongi, and throughout the camp they learn a haka that is specific to the kaupapa. A poroporoaki (farewell) is led by the children at the very end. Each camp is kicked off with a pōwhiri, whaikōrero, waiata, and a hongi, with a poroporoaki (farewell) led by the children at the end. Photo: supplied Nathan said it changes the lives of children over the course of just three days, often leaving parents in tears. The reviews on Facebook show appreciation for a "a unique experience immersed in Māori culture for three days", one read. Another review stated their sons hadn't stopped talking about their experience and practised the haka everywhere they could. "Yeah it is a rugby camp, but there's more alignment with Māori culture," Nathan said. There have also been kids who have gone through the Haka Rugby Global system and became mentors for the younger generations. "To educate kids on a deeper level, that's a massive driving factor for us. But our vision is to utilise multicultural and rugby as a tool to help create future world leaders," Nathan said There are approximately 140 keen kids per camp and each round is funded by parents, it's the interest that keeps the coaches touring. This year, Haka Rugby Global will hit its 100th camp with the biggest one yet to happen in London on 8 August with around 160 kids registered, coincidentally two weeks shy of the Women's Rugby World Cup in England. Tamariki learning a specific haka. Photo: supplied Despite the high number of participants, Nathan said it was "easy" to keep the kids in line. "It's down to the multicultural. When we say, 'hope' (the action), everyone puts their hand on their hips. Whereas if you blow a whistle and you tell them to shut up, they're not going to, right?" "If you tell them to pūkana, everyone will pūkana together - that is the most powerful thing that we do, it's utilising the multicultural, and that's what brings in discipline." The tamariki have also adopted mana waves and words like "tu meke, mōrena, and ka kite" as well, and coaches are referred to as "uncles". Nathan said he does his mahi to show tamariki in Aotearoa that there are professional pathways abroad. "Everywhere I go I represent who I am and my people. It's not just for myself, we're not just representing our family, but we're representing everyone back home." The tino rangatiratanga flag at the front of a group photo. Photo: supplied Nathan (Ngāpuhi) grew up in West-Auckland and was an academy rugby player who ventured to professional rugby in Ireland, Italy, and Scotland respectively. He thought he'd be playing rugby forever. "I went through a transition period where I thought, well, if I finish rugby, I'll be in a rut." So, he propped up a few businesses and when he hung up his boots, he created Haka Rugby Global. "I feel, and especially Kiwis as well, we know how to work outside the box. I think that'd be something that we're brought up with - we know how to go from A to Z and not stumble at C." It was a kaupapa he doesn't want to fizzle out. "It's like a dopamine hit. You just want it again and again and again because you're with the boys the whole time, and you're having [heaps of] giggles and laughs, it's easy. It becomes natural, you want it again." [picture id="4K6Y3QX_pro_aciZ8R3n_jpeg" crop="16x10" layout="full"] Photo: supplied The camp for tamariki is one main driver, but Haka Rugby Global also softens the blow for former professional rugby players transitioning into work, he said. "That's a big focus point of ours because we want our people, especially in Europe that have gone out and played rugby, we want them to succeed as well. "The reason why boys go into a bit of a rut is because they miss the socialism. Like, there's nothing better than playing rugby and you get to travel to all these countries and go to hotels and just meet different cultures." For a lot of the coaches, it was still like being in the professional rugby realm, but they were getting their "wairua fix" through teaching others tikanga Māori, Nathan said. "If the All Blacks weren't [one of] the most dominant teams in the world, we wouldn't be in this situation, but I know deep down that it's the Māori culture, that's what it has done." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Te Matatini 2027 won't be held in Nelson, organisers looking for new host
Performers from Muriwhenua kapa haka at the 2025 event. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf The next Te Matatini festival - the largest kapa haka competition in the world - will not be hosted in Te Tauihu o te Waka-a-Māui / Nelson. Te Matatini Society Incorporated, which runs the biennial haka tournament, announced on Monday it was looking for expressions of interest to host the event in 2027. Te Matatini board chair Tā Herewini Parata said the board made the decision on Friday amid concerns around the ability of smaller regions to accommodate a rapidly growing festival. "As the festival continues to grow in size and significance, the planning, hosting and delivery of Te Matatini must respond to that growth. "While this decision may be disappointing for many, we have had to be realistic and seriously reevaluate the risks of holding Te Matatini in its current format in smaller regions." Parata said Te Matatini had completed a comprehensive evaluation and while Te Tauihu had worked hard to find solutions to deliver the festival at its current size, concerns remained around accommodation, transport and freight capabilities. Te Tauihi was originally scheduled to host the event in 2025, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2021 festival in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, pushing the schedule out by two years. Sonny Alesana. Photo: Supplied Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui Māori Cultural Council chairperson Sonny Alesana said while the decision was disappointing, they understood and remained hopeful Te Tauihu would have the opportunity to host in the future. "Yes, we are disappointed, but we also understand the pressure Te Matatini is under, both in terms of its growth and the financial implications of that. "We understand there remains widespread support, willingness, and commitment for Te Tauihu and the other smaller rohe to host in the future once Te Matatini has established a more sustainable format and framework for the event." Alesana said the region was committed to continuing to work with Te Matatini to make sure Te Tauihu does have its time in the sun and smaller regions were not automatically disqualified from hosting. "Te Tauihu can stand proud; we successfully hosted Te Mana Kuratahi in 2023 and the national secondary schools kapa haka festival, Te Huinga Whetū - Ngā Kapa Haka o Ngā Kura Tuarua o Aotearoa in 2024, welcoming a combined 35,000 manuhiri. Our work together with our iwi and our councils has strengthened our partnerships, our volunteer base and our kapa haka communities. For that, we are grateful. "With the communities of Mohua, Te Tai o Aorere, Whakatū and Marlborough behind us, we are confident the region is up to the job of hosting Te Matatini in the future, and we look forward to continuing discussions to that end." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
