Ka tangihia ngā tini aituā, ngā mate huhua o te motu. He paiao kaniawhea ki runga i Te Tairāwhiti, ā, heke iho ki Te Matau a Māui. Ko tātou anō tērā e matapōrehu ana i ngā hau tipua, i ngā taniwha hikuroa mō kōrua e Api, e Tama.

Kua karangahia kōrua e Tahu Kumea, e Tahu Whakairo kia hau atu ki te tatau pounamu kia rau tāwhirihia e ngā mātua tīpuna. Noho mai rā i te korōriatanga o te wāhi ngaro. Waiho atu te tewe muri ki konei hei hopo, hei haku mō kōrua. Okioki mai rā.

He tini mata ki te rangi, Te Matatini ki Pūtaringamotu, tēnā rā tātou katoa. Tēnā tātou i tēnei kaupapa whakaharahara ā tātou.

Nā te motu anō tātou me te hapori whānui o Ōtautahi i whakarangatira ai. Nō tātou anō te whiwhi, te hōnore nui kia rau tāwhirihia rātou ki runga Pūtaringamotu ki tō tātou kaupapa, He Ngākau Aroha. Nāia au e mihi kau atu nei, ki tēnā kaimahi, ki tēnā marae, ki tēnā ringaringa waewae, mō koutou i toro atu te aroha, te ringa manaaki ki te motu. Ka kore rawa te puna o mihi e māhiti.

Te Ao Māori farewelled and mourned two prominent Māori leaders Dr Apirana Mahuika of Ngāti Porou and Tama Huata of Ngāti Kahungunu in late February.
Both were visionaries and advocates for Māori excellence. We remember them both for their persistence, duty, and hard-work for their own iwi and the motu. Tama was the epitome of Te Matatini and Uncle Api was a true statesman who championed many causes for the betterment of Ngāti Porou and iwi katoa.

What an awesome first week of March we had here in Ōtautahi at Pūtaringamotu, Hagley North Park. Te Matatini 2015 was a blast. It would have to be one of the best events I have ever attended.

To have Te Matatini down here in Te Waipounamu was humbling and indeed an honour. He Ngākau Aroha – a loving heart – was the theme for this year’s festival. Te Matatini 2015 was our opportunity to say thank you to all iwi and the motu for their aroha, tautoko and manaaki they showed us after the earthquakes.

It seems surreal that only two years ago the planning to host Te Matatini commenced and then all of a sudden it was here and we were welcoming the motu. It was a beautiful sight to see the multitudes descend on to Pūtaringamotu.

Over the four days we watched the best of the best; the finest of kapa haka. To see the excitement on peoples faces, the determination to get the best spot on the ground to watch their favourite group, the laughter, the crying and the happiness; it was absolutely beautiful to see.

I’m no haka expert however, in my eyes every group were winners. When each group took to the stage you could feel the ihi, wehi and wana and see the sweat pouring down their faces. The many practices and wānanga and the tireless efforts in their performance paid off and you could see that as they left the stage.

Congratulations to our three Waitaha groups, Ngā Manu a Tāne, Te Ahikōmau a Hamoterangi and Te Pao a Tahu. You all did us proud and represented the rohe with great dignity – nāia te māriri, te whakamiha atu ki a koutou.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the volunteers and kaimahi for their awesome work during the festival. I have received so much positive feedback on the manaaki, particularly from kaumātua who were appreciative of the manaakitanga and aroha given to them.

A huge mihi and congratulations to the Waitaha Cultural Council for the excellent organising and planning of the festival – ka nui te aroha.

Nō reira e ōku rangatira, e ngā manu mātārae, e kore rawa te puna aroha e māhiti. Noho ora mai i ngā manaakitanga o te wāhi ngaro.