(WOMAN PERFORMS KARANGA) Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2023 (KARANGA CONTINUES) # Turanga tane. # Turanga wahine. (ALL SING CHEERFUL WAIATA) # Huraina mai o kura! # Huraina mai o kura! # (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) - IN TE REO MAORI: Stand tall, Ahititi, the chief mountain of Waihirere. Well, our guest on the couch today for Te Matahaka is a descendant of Waihirere, Ruth Smith. - My friend, hello! - Hello! - How are you this summer? - I'm well, very well, yes. I welcome the summer and all it has to offer. - Well, welcome to our discussion. We have just seen the poi item. How beautiful. It talks about the noble women of your region, Waihirere. Can you please tell me more about that beautiful song? - Yes. When we, the composers, were brainstorming the topic of this song, we thought of a theme of celebrating women. As you know, my iwi, the Tairawhiti region, are very strong in elevating women. So we wanted to share the korero around Turanga women, Turanga men and Turanga people. The mana of the women and men do not overpower each other. The men have their own work, and so forth. But if we work together, then the job gets done. So that's the main theme of this song. - You are no different from those noble women. - Yes. - I also know Te Tairawhiti is very strong in women's rights. You are also part of that. How was the journey to Te Matatini 2023? What were the goals set before arriving to Auckland? - I feel we achieved what we set out to achieve. We wanted to lay our thoughts, celebrate Te Matatini's 50 years, as that is a big achievement. We are a group that is fortunate to have been at every competition since its beginning. - True. - So that's special. We knew there are many stories and memories our tutors and elders have, to share to the nation, to spread to the public. - Well, what is the measurement, or three key values for a performer to get to the level that's right for Waihirere? - Three? That's heaps. No. However, I've been around this group since I was little. I think I was 13 when I was hanging around the senior team. I'm saying this because our group is a family group who nurture our kids and juniors from our hapu. That's always been the case. Some have come to reconnect to their tribe, to Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki widely, to Ngati Kohuru, Ngati Wahia and the wider region. They have now gone on to start their own teams and share their knowledge with those from other areas of the region. That's beautiful to think about. That's beautiful. Secondly, one of the talents of my Aunty Tangiwai and Uncle George is pulling out the best in everyone. They have a lot of lessons of how to bring out the best in you. So, they teach a lot about how to stimulate the inner self. It's not right for everyone to be the same as the next, so finding your own style and gems is key. Thirdly, you must have a passion for performing. - Exactly. - A passion for performing. In Te Tairawhiti, performing is everything to us. - Genealogy, talent and love for kapa haka. What lovely principles, sister. Well, everyone, tributes flow, and so do the waters of Waihirere. When we come back, we shall taste those waters. - IN TE REO MAORI: Waihirere flows, and acknowledgement to our guest of the day, Ruth my sister. Greetings to you and this senior team of Te Matatini. Well, the competition is now 50 years old. Waihirere has stood at every competition. You had sung about that in your entrance item. Can you tell us more about this year's song? - Yes. This was one of my favourite items of our bracket. Because it spoke about the experience, that song, that our Aunty Tangiwai and Aunty Nuku had experienced over the 50 years of the competition. It's amazing when you think about it. Amazing. It's also beautiful because Aunty Nuku is the only performer to perform at every competition. So I felt that honour of sharing that with her on the stage. To think, that's a feat only she has done and will every do. - No one will ever get to do that. - Exactly. So this song shares that experience over the years. It also honours those of the past, who started this. - How lucky to have Nuku. 'Iconic'! I say Nuku is iconic. Soon the competition will be called 'Te Matatini a Nuku'. - (LAUGHS) That will make her very embarrassed. - It's only right that happens, as she is the face that stood on every stage. Even though she is the eldest, she still has the goods. You still hear her 'Aue' commands. 'Iconic', her voice ` 'Aue!' in those little breaks in songs. - Honestly, you just leave her to do what she does, because it's Nuku. - The queen, right? The queen of the haka. - But because we are a tight family group, we know to look after her on the stage. Our younger performers know to watch out for her during movements. Yes, they must learn their own movements, but they also learn Aunty Nuku's as well. While we support her like that, we also let you do what she wants. - Well, who is brave enough to tell the queen of kapa haka to do this and do that? - No one. Honestly though, she is a hard worker at practice. She doesn't sit down. She works for it. She knows she needs to be able to get to the level of performance required. She sets the example for the rest of us. - Exactly. Enough of that. Let's now watch that amazing entrance which talks about Te Matatini and its 50 years. Here you go. (MAN CALLS COMMANDS IN TE REO MAORI) (PUTATARA TRUMPET BLOWS) - E rere atu ana ki roto i nga tai o mahara! (ALL SING POWERFUL WAIATA) - (SINGS STIRRING WAIATA) (ALL SING BEAUTIFUL HARMONIES) - IN TE REO MAORI: The sun has risen here in Tamaki Makaurau, at Te Reo Tataki today. Sister, greetings. You have brought the sun. As we look to the future of this team and the coming months, the regionals are nearby. The Tamararo competition is strong every year. How are preparations going so far? - Now we are preparing and getting the group together. So we have a bit of sweet-talking to do. Our senior members have gone out to talk our relations into returning to the group, to remind them the Tamararo competition is coming up, so telling them to hurry up and all that. We are also telling them to get haka fit. We know what that's like. - True. While most of our whanau are at home, some looking after the kids, our performers are out there doing the mahi during the summer. - I bet many knees are shaking at this moment. Waihirere is known for great 'wiri' movements. It's one of the great symbols of the Waihirere team. It's seen a strength, that treasure, the wiri. There's the shaking of the hands, the voice and the face. That's an 'iconic' thing with whole Te Waihirere team. Another is the haka item. Let's talk about the haka this year, and the beauty of the theme, the story, the way that theme is presented. Can you explain more about this beautiful haka? - The haka item goes alongside the poi item. The poi talks about installing the talents of our elders in the young girls. The haka is the same for the men. It's about the stalwarts and their talents and installing that into our young boys. - Come on, let's now watch this awesome haka by this veteran team of Te Matatini. Let's watch. Here we go. (ALL CHANT HAKA) Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2023