08 Mar 2024
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui is set to grace the international stage at FestPAC in Hawai’i this June, with their journey promising more than just haka but a powerful demonstration of mana motuhake, the assertion of indigenous autonomy and identity.
As reigning Te Matatini national champions, the 44 members of the kapa are over half of the 85 artists and performers representing Aotearoa, New Zealand at the Festival of Pacific Arts in Honolulu.
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui kapa haka spokesperson Te Kāhautu Maxwell expresses the significance of haka to Māori, “Kapa haka is the new Māori religion that encourages healthy lifestyles, excellence in education, and social development. Kapa haka is a door that opens opportunities and realises the dreams and potential of the individual, communities, and the nation to the world.”
The New Zealand Delegation will be led by the Arts Council of New Zealand’s Komiti Māori, Kura Moeahu, Bonita Bigham, and Puamiria Parata-Goodall. Puamiria, a long-standing member and performer of Te Ahikāroa kapa haka, says, “Haka and waiata are our legacy, our archives that transmit mana motuhake and mātauranga to future generations and the world. It’s about leaving behind a legacy of wellbeing and identity for our mokopuna, ensuring our cultural heritage lives on.”
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui are no strangers to the international stage. They serve as cultural ambassadors nationally and internationally, showcasing te ao Māori and its cultural beauty.
In July 2023, some members of the kapa, along with former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, travelled to China for trade delegation business, promoting cultural exchange with Chinese officials. They also had the opportunity to accompany the All Blacks to France for the Rugby World Cup.
Te Matatini, the organisation celebrating kapa haka excellence, echoes the sentiment of mana motuhake, envisioning a world where kapa haka preserves and celebrates Māori culture and language. As part of the FestPAC delegation, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui will leverage their performances to address topical issues currently weighing on indigenous communities.
Te Kāhautu emphasises that kapa haka serves as a platform for political awareness, offering hope and encouragement to indigenous peoples worldwide. Beyond the stage, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui will demonstrate whanaungatanga with Kanaka Maoli, the indigenous people of Hawai’i, “Whakapūmau i te ara whanaunga. Strengthen our whakapapa and traditional relationships by establishing cultural exchanges and entering inter-Pacific trade agreements rangatira to rangatira.”
FestPAC is the premiere indigenous arts and culture Festival in the Pacific. Established in 1972 by indigenous leaders and communities around Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, its mission is to breathe life into traditional art practices through cultural exchange. Its outcomes resonate powerfully through the artistry and dedication of its participants. The New Zealand delegation is managed by Creative New Zealand in collaboration with Te Matatini.
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