To most it’s known as the Olympics of Kapa Haka, but for Ropata Haddon, Ngā Waihotanga member and Tui Ora Kaimahi Taiohi, Te Matatini was a chance to represent himself and his whānau on the stage under his maunga.
From South Taranaki and of Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Ruahine Rangi, Ngāti Whātua, and Ngāpuhi descent, having Taranaki host the biggest Māori cultural festival in the calendar added to the wairua of his experience.
“I’ve been doing kapa haka since I was a kid, but this was my first time on stage at Te Matatini. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and an awesome experience.”
His eyes light up when explaining what it was like on stage in the moment, “Just looking out to the crowd, and seeing all our whānau, seeing all our supporters wearing blue, we really felt the support!”
“I tried to be really present while on stage, but it went by in a second. One minute I was singing at the beginning and then I blinked and it was the end, and I’m kind of looking around thinking man that went so fast!”
Emotionally though, despite the initial nerves and excitement, Ropata felt settled on stage, “I was trying to keep the mauri tau, that’s where I was at while I was performing.”
The moment might have flown by while on stage, but the lead up to get there was a long time coming. The kapa haka group Ngā Waihotanga were formed in 2019, and after delays due to COVID and not being able to perform at the 2023 Te Matatini in Tāmaki Makaurau, their time to shine this year felt long overdue.
There were 55 groups that qualified for this year’s Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga, 10 more than the previous record set in 2023. Each team had to qualify through the 13 intense regional competitions, with only a set amount of teams able to proceed to the next stage. Ngā Waihotanga was one of four rōpū from Te Kāhui Maunga which encompassed the regions of Taranaki, Whanganui and Ruapehu.
Two of the main tutors who run Ngā Waihotanga are husband and wife duo Te Ruinga and Tere Diamond. They both have a long legacy in kapa haka, with Te Ruinga being a direct descendant of members from the Pātea Māori Club, and both were once members of the famous kapa haka rōpū Waka Huia up north. Upon returning home to South Taranaki they used their experience to pass down their knowledge and skills to others.
Ropata can name his favourite item to perform in a heartbeat. “Haka! In our haka we talk about going back to your marae, back to your hapū. As of late the paepae has been quite empty, with the old generation passing away and the new generation coming through. It’s a challenge to fill their place, so that’s why it meant so much to me, that item was so meaningful.”
It’s been a long six-months campaigning and getting closer to the event the group were practicing many times a week. As a new father, for Ropata it was a big commitment and trade-off, but now that it’s over he says it’s something he misses. “At the time practicing as often as we were, out in the blistering sun, drilling, drilling, drilling, it was tough! But to be honest, I now really miss the journey.”
After performing on stage, the first thing Ropata did was make a beeline to his partner and 7-week-old son in the crowd. Celebrations for him were a nice night in with his whānau while the rest of the rōpū headed off to the pools to cool down then back to South Taranaki.
When reflecting on all of the support he’s received over the last few months he says, “I’d like to thank my partner for holding it down while I was away, all my whānau for being super supportive, also Tui Ora kaimahi for all the aroha and my boss Dineka Young for being understanding. I feel so humbled for this experience, the support, and being able to represent my iwi in the south.”