Cheers and applause as first Matatini rōpū takes the stage
Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Te Matatini Herenga Waka Herenga Tangata Festival has opened with Ngāti Kūri rōpū Muriwhenua taking the stage to rapturous applause as the 50th anniversary of the competition begins after a four-year hiatus.
Their chants calling back to the as their waiata shoots across the stadium, sending vibrations through the hundreds of people camped in front of the stage.
Apart from the furious flapping of their hats in the summer heat, the sea of people is still, transfixed.
Hundreds of supporters have arrived at Ngā Ana Wai/Eden Park on Wednesday with their kete filled with blankets, and moko carrying chairs, ready to leap into action to claim the perfect spot from which to watch the onstage action.
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The four-day event will see 45 rōpū bring everything they have to the stage in a bid to become the winners of this year’s festival – and everyone has a favourite.
Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Ranginui’s “number one supporters” were eagerly awaiting their chance to go through the gates as the sun rose over Tāmaki Makaurau.
They’d travelled from Tauranga Moana to watch their rōpū battle for top place, Tiria Nicholas said.
Her whānau are performing and had put in a lot of mahi and sacrificed a lot to prepare for the festival.
“They’ve been training, and we don’t know what their brackets are so that’s exciting to see. We’re waiting to see what the poi is and all of that,” Nicholas said.
Fellow supporter Kiley Temoni said she was just glad after all the postponed competitions that there would finally be some new performances to watch.
“We’ve spent four years watching the same haka. I think the one thing I’m excited about is we’ve got some new haka to watch.”
Alongside all the stalwarts are first-timers, like 1-year-old Tumanawa Pōhatu Williams-Mika making his first appearance at the world’s largest kapa haka festival.
His grandmother, Ellen McLean, is also looking after students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Māngere who have come to this year’s competition to help usher the supporters filling the stadium.
“We’ve got our tuākana here today, our year 12s and 13s, they’re kaimahi, volunteers for the next three days.”
While she’s never performed herself, her tamariki have, with her son joining Te Kapa Haka o Te-Whānau-ā-Apanui for this year’s competition.
McLean said she’s looking forward to seeing how much the groups have evolved since the last Matatini.
“[I’m excited to] just watch the kapa haka, and watching how it’s all gone to the next level, its amazing, the set-up is amazing.”
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For those waiting for their favourite rōpū to take to the stage, there’s plenty to keep you busy.
This year’s festival marketplace has 146 stalls, a Matatini record, with hauora, business, education stalls and more, as well as kai stalls and rest areas to ensure all the manuhiri and fed and have somewhere to relax.
And if you can’t make it to Matatini this year, it will be live- streamed via TVNZ following this schedule.
Schedule
Muriwhenua, Te Tai Tokerau – 8.15am
Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Kahungungu – 8.50am
Tūtarakauika ki Rangataua, Mātaatua – 9.25am
Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti, Te Tairāwhiti – 10am
Te Ringa Kaha, Rangitāne – 10.25am
Te Kai o te Ata – 20 minutes
Te Waka Huia, Tāmaki Makaurau – 11.25am
Te Rangiura o Wairarapa, Ngāti Kahungungu – 12pm
Ngā Manu Mātui, Te Tai Tokerau, 12.23pm
Te Taha Tū, Tāmaki Makraurau, 1.10pm
Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Te Arawa, – 1.45pm
Te Wā Tina – 45 minutes
Te Ahi a Tahurangi, Te Whanganui a Tara – 3pm
Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru, Aotea – 3.35pm
Te Iti Kahurangi, Tainui – 4.10pm
Aotea Ūtanganui, Aotea – 4.45pm
Waerenga Te Kaha, Te Tai Tokerau – 5.20pm