LEADING THE WAY: Ngāi Taiwhakaea’s kaitataki tane (male leader) Haupai Williams, centre, leads his roopu from the front. He is pictured with Atutahi Stewart, Ani Black, Poututerangi Tarau and Manuariki Teepa-Tarau. E5038-0005
Kathy Forsyth
Ngāti Awa Te Toki 2024 – a massive festival celebrating kapa haka – went off smoothly last weekend and drew a massive crowd of visitors.
“It was a beautiful event,” said organising committee chairman Reweti Elliott.
Thirty-one roopu representing their Ngāti Awa sub-tribes, or hapū, delivered brackets in different categories, including tamariki (children), whakataetae (competitive) and whakangahau (entertainment) at the festival – which took place over two days at Rugby Park.
Mr Reweti said it was wonderful to watch many of the younger generations take to the stage and present their traditional culture through performance.
He said the visitors came from far and wide to enjoy the event.
“We had an array of people. I bumped into a couple of people from Finland and from Germany and they loved the festival. The comments I got from them were that it was a real, authentic traditional Māori experience that they would never get anywhere else. To hear comments like that was really awesome.”
Te Toki aims to promote unity and pride within Ngāti Awa and provides a platform for each hapū withing Ngāti Awa to display their individual hapūtanga and Ngāti-awatanga.
Ngāti Hamua were crowned overall kapa haka winners with Nga Maihi second and Pahipoto, third.
BEACON photographer Troy Baker was at Rugby Park to capture Ngāi Taiwhakaea, Ngāti Pukeko and Ngāti Rarawhati roopu in action
Ngāi Taiwhakaea roopu
SONGSTRESS: Arahia Tarau, of Ngai Taiwhakaea, sings her heart out. E5038-0042PUKANA: Taiwhakaea’s Poututerangi Tarau, centre, acknowledges the audience at the Te Toki Kapa Haka Festival on Sunday. E5038-0052MANA WĀHINE: Ngai Taiwhakaea’s kaitataki wahine (female leader) Makere Milosevic, front, and Tina Norman focus on their performance. E5038-0101WĀHINE TOA: Taiwhakaea wāhine Ani Black, Mona Stewart and Maia Connor show emotion during their performance. E5038-0132POISED: Taiwhakaea’s Makere Tarau, Ani Black and Tina Norman show elegance with their poi. E5038-0230GOOD PERFORMANCE: Mona Stewart looks satisfied with her performance for Taiwhakaea. E5038-0296GRACIOUS: Atawhai Nathan performs the waita-ringa. E5038-0302TE TOKI: Taiwhakaea’s tāne, from left, Nesbit Himiona, Dion Kingi, Tukirunga Perenara, Tuaranganaia Nohotima and Hoani Stewart represent their roopu. E5038-0417
Ngāti Pukeko roopu
LONE WARRIOR: Ngāti Pukeko’s Nikora Heitia takes centrestage. E5038-1198NGĀTI PUKEKO WĀHINE: From left, Jacqueline Thrupp, Waereti Ratana, Kerry Brown, Kimihia Te Oranga Palmer, Faith Playle and Katherine Teepa. E5038-1215TAIAHA: Ngāti Pukeko’s Marahana Temo-Pitau looks confident on stage. E5038-1241
IN SYNC: Kimihia Te Oranga Palmer and Faith Playle perform for Ngāti Pukeko. E5038-1263WERO CHALLENGE: Tumanako Temo-Pitau gets ready to lay the challenge. E5038-1312IN FOCUS: Waereti Ratana, centre, delivers a memorable performance. E5038-1417SWEET TUNES: Ngāti Pukeko wāhine, front row from left, Rangi Waaka, Tirārangi Heurea and Whakairi Nicholas in tune with their poi. E5038-1525MANA WĀHINE: Ngāti Pukeko’s Waereti Ratana,Faith Playle, Kimihia Te Oranga Palmer, Tiara-Mānea Heurea and Kerry Brown. E5038-1561HAKA’S ON: Tūtakangahau Tāwaka, Shane Heurea and Marahāna Temo-Pitau deliver a fierce haka. E5038-1664PUKANA: Te roopu o Ngāti Pukeko make their presence felt on stage. E5038-1758
Ngāti Rarawhati roopu
SWEET SOUNDS: Ngāti Rarawhati wāhine, Anahera Darnelle Kepa, Harmony Ohlson and Hoana Alhers sing their hearts out. E5038-0587TOP TANE: Ngāti Rarawhati’s kaitātaki tane Te Uamairangi Paul stamps his presence on the stage. E5038-0615NEXT GENERATION: Tiare Kerr shows determination in her performance for Ngāti Rarawhati. FEARSOME: Ngāti Rarawhati’s Anthony (AJ) Ohlson shows his fierce side during his team’s performance. E5038-0685WERO CHALLENGE: Kaiwero Manu-Tāpuke Waretini is in deep concentration as he steps out for the challenge. E5038-0713ON STAGE: Anthony (AJ) Ohlson takes it all in for his roopu. E5038-0770RARAWHATI: Manuera Reneti holds his taiaha with determination. E5038-0734EMOTIONS: Ngāti Rarawhati’s Tiare Kerr, Tukua Waretini and Ngā Kiri Whereo Ahlers in deep song. E5038-0845WĀHINE MA: Ngāti Rarawhati roopu makes their stage presence felt at Te Toki Kapa Haka Festival on Sunday. E5038-0949GRACIOUS: Anahera Darnelle Kepa shows her talent on stage. E5038-0954PUKANA: Matariki Rehe steps out of his comfort zone for Ngāti Rarawhati on Sunday. E5038-1027
