Traditional haka style wins the day at Te Matatini

23 February 2009

Media Release

A simple and traditional haka style wins the day at Te Matatini

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori wishes to congratulate all of the teams that took part in Te Matatini over the weekend.

Te Waka Huia from Auckland took out the top prize adding to their three previous National titles at the competition, followed closely by Whangara Mai Tawhiti and Te Whānau a Apanui.

Chief Executive, Huhana Rokx says ““It is exciting to see the role of te reo Māori in these competitions positively affirmed as composers are recognised for original items across all categories, in addition to the mainstay category of te reo Māori that has always existed”, says Huhana Rokx.

The biennial kapahaka competitions serve as a reo Māori extravaganza.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori further congratulates Te Whānau a Apanui as winners of the category for te reo Māori. Te Whānau a Apanui present an exemplary model of hapu and iwi kapahaka which is firmly based in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga.

“While theatre and drama are very important to performance brackets, we commend the judges for their treatment of te reo as the critical and deciding component in the deliberations”, says Huhana Rokx.

Ends

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