Supporting Ngāpuhi kapa haka whānau at Te Matatini 2017

Tēnā koutou Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi,

The Kia Ngawari Kapa Haka Club (representing Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka o Maui) would like to thank Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi for the funding to help support Ngāpuhi whānau within our kapa haka roopū. The sponsorship putea enabled them to attend and participate at Te Matatini 2017 in Heretaunga. To be able to perform at Te Matatini and other events can sometimes be a financial struggle and we are grateful for the help this funding has provided.

It was an awesome (and first time) experience for many of the kaihaka within the roopū and gave everyone a wider view of the level of kapa haka throughout Aotearoa. With Te Matatini being held in Te Tau Ihu (Nelson) in 2025, we were also able to get a scope of the magnitude of preparations involved in hosting the event. Te Matatini showcases our talents and our culture, not only to Māori but to the rest of the world.

Ngā Mihi Nui

Esekiah Faauli (Kia Ngawari Kapa Haka Club)

[Published in E Mara E Pānui 9 March 2017]