(MAN CALLS IN TE REO MAORI) Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2023 - (CALLS IN TE REO MAORI) (PERFORMERS EXCLAIM) (ALL PERFORM HAKA) (ALL PERFORM HAKA) (ALL PERFORM HAKA) (ALL PERFORM HAKA) (HAKA ENDS, CHEERING, APPLAUSE) - IN TE REO MAORI: Stand tall, Nga Tumanako. Here before me is one of its progeny, the most handsome male leader of the nation! Kawa, hello. - IN TE REO MAORI: Hello. - Welcome to our Haka-pod` uh, Haka Life podcast of Te Reo Tataki. (BOTH LAUGH) The show had started with that haka item which took home first place. It talked about COVID... and how we went without kapa haka for such a long time. - IN TE REO MAORI: Yes, this haka spoke about COVID. Sir Timoti Karetu was the composer. - Ohh! - Who else? Who else? - IN ENGLISH: The big guns! Pull out the big guns! - IN TE REO MAORI: Mahanga and I always reach out to him. It was his words, and we put the beat and actions to it. When the composition came to me, it was four pages long! - (LAUGHS) - But our men wouldn't handle... - IN ENGLISH: A thesis! A thesis! - ...that long of a haka. I had to smooth-talk him into making it short. My sister Reikura didn't like it, because it was 'too short, too short'. I said to her, 'We need to finish on a bang. Never mind dragging it out.' And the judges ended up liking it. I want to acknowledge our men. That's the first time we have won the haka trophy. - Ohh! IN TE REO MAORI: How good it was too. I still can feel the goodness from that style and stand at Te Matatini. What were the goals set for Nga Tumanako when preparing for Te Matatini? What was particularly set for this competition? - IN TE REO MAORI: Our main goal was to win again. That hasn't been achieved since Waka Huia. That's the goal every time when preparing for Te Matatini. We never achieved that, maybe because we didn't plan our journey properly. We were only focused on our main goal. - Ooohh! - When we return to Te Matatini... the experience we felt is what we need to hold on to. When people are too focused on one goal, yeah, we lose out on hidden gems. If I could go back in time, (LAUGHS) our campaign would be different. But that's the moment. - When picking the team and each performer, what is the criteria you follow... (BOTH LAUGH) ...the criteria that a performer must meet to make it in the lines of Nga Tumanako? Can you give me three criteria for a performer... to reach the potential needed in your eyes? What are those three gems? So I know how my group can reach that standard too. (BOTH LAUGH) - The first ` you must be present. You must be physically present. Don't ask when the practices are and then not turn up! The stance is a big thing, but if you don't know your words and the tune... You are not doing the song or haka any favours if you don't know your words. Knowing the words must always come first, always. Anyone can follow what they see in front of them, but someone who can portray the words in the traditional chant or haka is someone special. Those can reach that level are very special. - IN TE REO MAORI: Ohh! How awesome. I will repeat those gems. Thirdly, it's portraying something special. Second, you must know your words, and lastly, you must be present. - (LAUGHS) - It's now time to take a break. When we return, we talk more about Nga Tumanako with Kawariki. IN TE REO MAORI: 'Those who inhabit your house, grow them on the fruit of the rengarenga 'and strengthen them with the fruit of the Kawariki Morgan.' Yes, our house has been strengthened by you. Thanks for sharing those secrets with us. The criteria you spoke about, knowing your words ` you can clearly see that in your style in the traditional chant item. Why are you great at this item? - IN TE REO MAORI: Maybe because of the great composition. That's Mahanga's work. He is the expert chant composer for Nga Tumanako. Kei moumou was also his, yeah, encouraging those who are fluent to speak Maori to our children. There is no other way for our reo to survive. If our children don't want to speak Maori, then it will die. This year's chant was maybe the opposite to that, telling those who are fluent. I'm not saying who, but some of them make themselves like gods. - (LAUGHS) - What about caring and sharing the reo, the customs? That is what goes alongside the reo is customs. Te reo is not only the most important thing... - The be all and end all of things. - Yes, yes. If those two things don't go side by side, then we will be screwed. This chant is to remind everyone that custom plays a big part, like caring and sharing. - IN TE REO MAORI: To add to that, another style of Nga Tumanako is biting the words ` in the entrance, the haka and traditional chant. Share with me and everyone the secret of pronunciation within the patere. What are the tricks for a group to perform a patere? - Reikura and I say, 'Practice.' Going over and over every syllable, every word. Right pronunciation is key. If the words are jumbled, then it's a waste of composition. That's our way of paying respect to the composition ` having the right pronunciation. It's like you said ` bite the words. Bite every single word so it doesn't sound jumbled, and go over and over each practice. - What a great way so the song is not wasted. Let's watch and listen to every syllable of the traditional chant performed by Nga Tumanako. - (SHOUTS IN TE REO MAORI) (LAUGHTER) (SHOUTS IN TE REO MAORI) (SHOUTS IN TE REO MAORI) (SHOUTS IN TE REO MAORI) (WOMAN BEGINS CHANT) (GROUP PERFORM CHANT) (GROUP PERFORM CHANT) (GROUP PERFORM CHANT) (GROUP PERFORM CHANT) - IN TE REO MAORI: Hold fast to the dreams and aspirations of our ancestors to inspire our future generation. Welcome back to Te Matahaka. Let's talk now about the future. What is the future for Nga Tumanako with the regionals coming up? That's us both. How is Nga Tumanako going with preparations for the new year? - IN TE REO MAORI: We are in prep mode. The schedule has been sent, but we haven't yet started. The core group has started, because we all know we need a bracket before our big practices. Now we are looking at our compositions... and what we are looking to bring to the competition. We are going hoping to win again. - The children of the marae are the current champions ` primary and secondary champs. How is it sitting with them? We saw you all stand together at Koroneihana, showing them the ropes. What are your thoughts when you think of the children of Hoani Waititi Marae? - They are the example. They have shown us parents what is needed to be done. My heart sings for their success. I loved watching Te Kapa Puawai. My sons were in there. - Ah! - That's the first for me watching them perform like that on stage. - Ka pai, Makoman! Hoo-hoo! - I bawled my eyes out for them all. There was a question by Scotty Morrison ` what's in the water at Hoani Waititi? - It's the titi. (BOTH LAUGH) It's the waiu! (BOTH LAUGH) - Te reo Maori is the waiu... - Ah! Ohhh! - ...that feeds the generations at Hoani Waititi Marae. - IN TE REO MAORI: The nice taste of the wai Maori is at the home of Hoani Waititi Marae! As we look to the next few years ahead, what are your aspirations for the group? Is it for Makoman to lead the group? Is that the dream? - IN TE REO MAORI: For myself, it's standing with my sons on stage. There's nothing like... performing, revitalising our language and customs, talking... and singing our stories. All those are achieved with kapa haka. The group will go forth as a family... - Mm! - ...as a family to nurture the language within our children and future generations. They are the ones paving the way for their parents. It's great to sit amongst your younger and older peers under the same thinking. - Ohh! Kawa, time is precious, and we have run out of it. I want to thank you for making yourself available. I want us to end with this beautiful composition acknowledging those who broke their back for the marae of Hoani Waititi. Let's all watch. (ACOUSTIC GUITAR STRUMS QUICKLY) - (SINGS POWERFULLY IN TE REO MAORI) (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) (CHEERING) (SINGING, GUITAR STRUMMING CONTINUES) (SINGS POWERFULLY IN TE REO MAORI) (GROUP EXCLAIM, AUDIENCE CHEERS, APPLAUDS) (GROUP PERFORM WAIATA) (GROUP PERFORM WAIATA, GUITAR CHORDS CONTINUE) (GROUP PERFORM WAIATA, GUITAR CHORDS CONTINUE) (GROUP PERFORM WAIATA, GUITAR CHORDS CONTINUE) Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2023