Council staff perform in ‘Olympics of kapa haka’
Two council staff members will be among hundreds of proud performers at the world’s largest celebration of excellence in traditional Māori performing arts, Te Matatini, starting today in New Plymouth.
The biennial festival will be attracting many eyes with an expected audience of around 70,000 turning out to the Bowl of Brooklands in Ngāmotu New Plymouth, and 1.8 million viewers tuning in live as teams from Aotearoa New Zealand and Ahitereiria Australia compete for the title of National Champion.
During the five-day festival of elite kapa haka, Far North District Council staff members Dena-Maree Hemara and Eli Smith are participating in two separate performance rōpū groups.
Dena-Maree, a Kaiārahi Kaupapa Māori at the council, is competing with Muriwhenua, a Far North-based group that placed first at Northland’s regional qualifying competition.
Eli is the council's Kaiwhakangungu Reo – Te Reo Trainer working to implement the council's Ka Irihia - Te Reo Māori Action Plan, and Te Pae o Waho - Cultural Competency Programme which has included more than 150 council staff so far. Eli is performing for Ngā Tūmanako, a group from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Far North Kahika Moko Tepania says, "Kia kaha, kia māia, kua rangatira ake mātou o te kaunihera i a kourua - we're so proud of Dena-Maree and Eli. Our council whānau will be backing them and all of our Far Northerners competing at Te Matatini this week.”
Regional competitions held throughout the motu set the benchmark for teams to qualify for the national competition. At Te Matatini, three top groups are chosen from each for the first four days. On the fifth day, Saturday 1 March, the 12 finalists rōpū then compete for the national title.
Ngā Tūmanako will be performing on Wednesday 26 February and Muriwhenua on Friday 28 February. Other groups representing Te Tai Tokerau include Hātea, Te Uri o Manumanu and Te Puu Ao.
Te Matatini will be livestreamed on TVNZ 2 and Whakaata Māori.
Photos below:
Dena-Maree performing for Muriwhenua at this year's Waitangi Day commemorations. (Photo credit: Sebatian Kalkoff).
Eli playing guitar for Te Aho Matua, who performed at last year's State of the Far North address.
