Huaki
1
HUAKI
“To bring to Light”
Edition 17
Friday, March 28, 2025
Ngāpuhi Voices Resonate at Te Matatini A
s the nation’s most prestigious kapa haka festival, Te Matatini brings together iwi from across Aotearoa in a powerful showcase of mātauranga, te reo, and cultural pride. This year, amongst the waiata, haka, and whanaungatanga, Ngāpuhi voices carried messages of identity, resilience, and connection. For many, Te Matatini is more than a competition—it is a space where Māori excellence thrives, a platform for whakapapa, and a moment for whānau to celebrate their shared heritage. Kapa haka was recognised as a crucial part of reclaiming identity, with the revitalisation of waiata and mōteatea seen as essential in strengthening the connection to Te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi.
Amongst the celebrations, the Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services (NISS) podcast crew provided an opportunity for Ngāpuhi performers from different kapa haka groups to share their stories and reflections. It became a space for them to voice their aspirations, acknowledge challenges, and celebrate their place within te ao Māori. The festival highlighted the presence of Ngāpuhi across all groups, with many uri living beyond Te Whare Tapu. Codi Clarke reflected, “The stats show most of our people live away from home, but Matatini reminded us just how widespread Ngāpuhi is. No matter where we are, it’s a space where we can be proud to be Ngāpuhi.” In a light-hearted and creative moment, the NISS crew introduced a new hand symbol
called Whare Tapu Up!—a unique gesture all about connection and whānau. The symbol was formed by participants shaping their hands into the shape of a whare. When someone called out “Wharetapu up!” the group responded by smoothly pulling their hands together to create the symbol. It became a fun and meaningful way to express unity, adding a touch of playfulness to the kaupapa while deepening the sense of whanaungatanga. These kōrero, recorded at Te Matatini, will continue to resonate far beyond the festival through Podcasts. As the voices of Ngāpuhi are captured and shared, they are contributing to a broader movement of cultural revival and connection.
In the spirit of this ongoing journey, the NISS podcast crew has been traveling across the motu, gathering powerful kōrero from communities at various gatherings and events, and now these Ngāpuhi voices are being brought together to share with whānau across Aotearoa. Stay tuned for the launch of the Ngāpuhi podcast, where the voices from Te Matatini and beyond will be heard by whānau nationwide.