February was spent preparing to host top Waikato-Tainui rōpū, Mōtai Tangata Rau of Ngāti Raukawa.
Many thanks to Elizabeth Cunningham, Linda Grennell, Manaia Cunningham and Doug Timothy, for all their mahi in the lead-up to the arrival of our manuhiri.
On Monday 2 March, our kokoru came alive to the sound of waiata, haka and te reo as over 70 members of the rōpū and their kaitautoko and kaumātua arrived for Te Matatini. This was the first stand for Mōtai Tangata Rau at Te Matatini, who unfortunately missed out on a “top 9” by just one point. However, they did place 10th overall, winning the “Mobil Oil Te Reo Excellence” trophy and placing second in the whakaeke, haka and whakawātea. [Read more…]