Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2023 (GROUP PERFORMS WAIATA) (GROUP PERFORMS WAIATA) (GROUP PERFORMS WAIATA) (GROUP PERFORMS WAIATA) (GROUP PERFORMS WAIATA) (GROUP PERFORMS WAIATA) (GROUP PERFORMS WAIATA) (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) - IN TE REO MAORI: I swing my poi to Tarimano Marae, to Awahou, the home of Rangiwewehi. Let's speak to a wonder of the haka world. Hohua, welcome! - IN TE REO MAORI: Thank you. - (CHUCKLES) IN TE REO MAORI: We are very fortunate to have you join us today here at Te Matahaka. Let's talk about this elite team. Your group are experts at this game, especially the poi. Tell me ` did your group reach its expectations for this year? - IN TE REO MAORI: There's only one goal ` for my team and iwi to head to the competition well and return home well. (PERE CHUCKLES) - Awesome. We saw the likes of... Kahurangi, Mercia, Pe, who have all returned. - They never left the haka world. We did see them at events; however, it was great to see them on stage again. They returned to support the cause. What was that cause? It's the stance of the tribe, so that world feels that stance. - One of the... major excitements from that stance is the level and expertise in poi. Rangiwewehi have long been examples of a team of quality poi skills. What does poi mean to Rangiwewehi and to the men of Rangiwewehi as well? - IN TE REO MAORI: Rangiwewehi men are useless at the poi. - (LAUGHS) - But we are there to support. Rangiwewehi have swung poi for a very long time, since the time of my elders. Now it's Hubba, Hoana Titia... - Mm. - Pipi, ko Piripi, our poi experts these days. The banging of poi used to be the sounds I used to hear as a child back in Awahou. I would hear the beats coming from Tarimano, way back when. - IN TE REO MAORI: What are the three key ingredients... - Just three? (LAUGHS) - ...for a performer from Rangiwewehi that will get them to the top standard, according to Rangiwewehi? - I will say ` every year, we have a different purpose. These past three years, our purpose was, 'Listen to the calls of the Kokomako. At the rising of the sun, 'singing the words of our tupuna, Rangiwewehi, correct yourselves.' That's what we carried and still carry with us. It doesn't mean, 'Stand like this,' no. It means be correct in your stand, your words and what you do. Your reo and purpose must be Rangiwewehi. That's what the saying means. This coming year, the saying will now refer to descendants of Rangiwewehi scattered around the regions to come together and return home. That's it. Those of you Rangiwewehi in other teams, that's fine, but remember you are from Rangiwewehi, and we don't forget that. That's our next purpose. Teams from other tribes, I encourage to stand their own stance, use the words from your tribe, the style from your own tribe, the events from your own tribe. If not, then those will never be spoken about. That's a true key ingredient there. The third ` we are very lucky at Rangiwewehi, because we are a tribe. When you come to Tarimano, you will see us on the orator's bench, singing the songs, cooking the food, sweeping the floor and making the beds. That's a value we hold on to. We are an iwi. Sometimes, we do kapa haka, but the main objective is upholding our ancestors' traditions and making our ancestors proud. That's it. - The first, second and third key ingredients is your Rangiwewehitanga, standing correctly. Our house here at Matahaka is now standing upright. When we return, we talk further... about this amazing team, Rangiwewehi. IN TE REO MAORI: Rangiwewehi are warming our house today, so welcome back to the fires of Te Matahaka. Our guest and speaker is Hohua. You have just revealed to the world Rangiwewehi's secret ingredients, which is for Rangiwewehi to stand correctly. I believe your stand is one of the best. Let's talk now about the haka. What was the purpose of the haka item this year? - IN TE REO MAORI: Firstly, where we're from, there's nothing more important than our style of haka. There's nothing like haka taparahi, to us. Over the years, we have done peruperu, but not recently. You've seen the footage of our men. They need to sign up to F45 to get in shape. - (LAUGHS) - Our women though, they train. - (CHUCKLES) It's now Crossfit-Rua, aye, in Rotorua! - I need to go and compete against my nephew, Hiko. - (LAUGHS) - We are doing more taparahi; that's our style. When we were part of the midgets group, we got told to sit in the meeting house and look at the carvings. These are the instructions by our elders. They said to look at the carvings; that's our style. When you see our carvings, they are slightly bent, the shoulders are back, and the hands are like this. That's where the saying, Rangiwewehi, 'stand correctly', comes from. That haka in particular... commemorates our elders over the years. Many of them have passed, and many are old. Some have bad knees as well. This haka was to celebrate them. Rangiwewehi were lucky over the years to have them show their skills to the world. They were the reason the group was well known amongst many. This haka... celebrates them in a humble way, of course. I hope that they heard the words and saw that haka from their homes so that they know how much we, the group Rangiwewehi, adore them. - IN TE REO MAORI: Who are some of these members who portrayed the style of Rangiwewehi? For yourself, who do you think is a good example of the Rangiwewehi stance? - IN TE REO MAORI: There are many. There are many. Over the years, that has changed ` not majorly, but the style has changed. Koro Irirangi, Hori Brennan were good examples. Another, who we followed in my time, was my grandfather. There are many who still perform, like Uncle Howie, Uncle Kim Ratapu. There are many still here today. Uncle Steve Clark, Uncle Tords. We wanted them to know how much we adore them. We don't want them to think we have forgotten them. We still think and refer to them. Our main goal every year... is to bring them to life on stage. - Let's talk now about your grandfather, our grandfather, Mita Mohi, and his teachings. How is his legacy still living on in your performances? - There are many ways we do. At the moment, it's me, my brother Murray... and my sister Hubba who tutor the group. We all were raised by him. He had many teachings, but his main saying would be, 'You are me, and I am you.' So we are all our achievements and our detriments. - Mm. Let's take a look now at that special item which celebrates our elders of Rangiwewehi ` in this haka item. - (CALLS IN TE REO MAORI) (CALLS IN TE REO MAORI) (GROUP PERFORMS HAKA) (GROUP PERFORMS HAKA) (GROUP PERFORMS HAKA) (GROUP PERFORMS HAKA) (GROUP PERFORMS HAKA) (GROUP PERFORMS HAKA) - IN TE REO MAORI: Te Matahaka is blessed by Hohua Mohi today. Thank you for joining our show. - Thank you. - We are nearing the regional competition. Is Rangiwewehi ready for the year coming? Also, what are the goals this year? - IN TE REO MAORI: At this moment, we are installing the belief in each and every one... to our main purpose and the teachings left before us. That's a big thing... installing belief into everyone. If they believe, then I am happy. Also, I'm ecstatic that those in the lines... now are my children, the children of the marae. If you were to go to the marae, you would see them sweeping the marae, the kitchen floors, washing the pots. Maybe not my own kids, but the children of the... - (LAUGHS) - ...of the marae. Seeing them all returning to the marae made me so happy. I truly know my time is nearing; that's why I'm very happy the next generation are coming back. - Thank you for joining us today. What a good note to end our show on. Thanks again for sharing with us. We will end today's show with this choral item. Be well. Here's the song. (ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYS CHORDS) (GROUP SINGS WAIATA) (GROUP SINGS WAIATA, HARMONISES) (MEN SING) (WOMEN JOIN, ALL HARMONISE) (GROUP SINGS WAIATA, HARMONISES) (GROUP SINGS SOFTLY, HARMONISES) (GROUP SINGS WAIATA, HARMONISES) (GROUP SINGS POWERFULLY, HARMONISES) (GROUP SINGS WAIATA, HARMONISES) (SINGING SOFTENS) (GROUP SINGS POWERFULLY, WAIATA CRESCENDOES) - (CALLS IN TE REO MAORI) (WAIATA ENDS) (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) (SERENE MUSIC)