Reigning champions of the 2015 Matatini competition, Te Whānau-a-Apanui was the fifth group to perform at the Mataatua Regional today.
In light of their victory, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui has been busy representing the Mataatua rohe nationally and internationally. In this year alone, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui has attended the Military Tattoo event in both Melbourne and Wellington and recently returned from Hawaii where they performed at the Merrie Monarch festival.
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui acknowledges the host of the Mataatua Regionals, dedicating their waiata-a-ringa “Te tai ra” to those who have passed in the Ruatoki region.
The rōpū also touch on a number of current political issues in their bracket. Their haka “Puhikura” warns of the dangers of deep sea oil drilling and their whakawātea “Hone Kino” challenges John Key and his government on a number of issues including the signing of the TPPA.
The team was tutored by Rikirangi Gage and Hone Wharepapa.