Ngāti Awa Te Toki

Ko te kaupapa o Ngāti Awa te Toki e here nei i te tangata ki tōna tātai whakapapa, e here nei ki tōna marae, ki tōna iwi. Ko te reo e rere nei ko te reo o Ngāti Awa, ma te reo ka paihere nei i ngā uri whakaheke ki tōna ahikaa, hei whakamahana i tōna marae.

Ko Ngāti Awa te Toki he kaupapa e whakatairanga, e whakarangatira ī ngā puipuiaki, i ngā tongarērewa o Ngāti Awa nui tonu. Over Labour Weekend 2019, Ngāti Awa whānui gathered at Te Hāweawea o Taiwhakaea (Whakatāne Rugby Park) to take the stage, to judge, or support whānau in the medium of kapahaka. Fourteen hapū performed in the Whakataetae Pakeke (adult competition section aged 15yr plus, where some hapū joined to make a combined kapa), and eight hapū performed in the Whakataetae Tamariki (tamariki competition section ages 0-14 years, again some hapū joining to make a combined kapa). Seventeen hapū took the stage in the Whakangāhau non-competitive section that is about participation so not judged, where mokopuna stood alongside their siblings, cousins, parents and kuia/koroua proudly singing hapū and iwi anthems. Over all the weekend was a great kaupapa for whānau, hapū and iwi to come together to relax, watch kapahaka, represent hapū by taking part on the stage, judging or volunteering. Te reo o Ngāti Awa and whakawhanaungatanga was flowing in abundance, and Te Ahi Kaa organising committee humbly acknowledge the stakeholders who support this event bi-annually with pūtea and mahi tautoko.

This year Tautohetohe (debating) was introduced, with an exhibition debate demonstrating Te Reo o Ngāti Awa with iwi participants volunteering to go head to head. The debate was all in Te Reo and the kaupapa was “Me whakaae kia ahauī ki ngā kaupapa Māori eg. Tangihanga”. Do you agree with taking selfies and going live at kaupapa Māori eg. tangihanga.

Della Simon, Te Hau Paeroa Hona and Lorraine Hale supported this kaupapa giving strong arguments such as connectivity for whānau who could not WHAKATAETAE PAKEKE WINNERS 2019 Ngā Maihi Ngāti Hāmua Ngāi Taiwhakaea

WHAKATAETAE TAMARIKI WINNERS 2019 Ngāti Rarawhati Ngā Maihi Te Pahipoto

attend. However the team arguing against, Pouroto Ngaropo, Waitangi Black and Hakahaka Hona won over the crowd with their whakaaro and enthusiastic delivery including keeping with kawa and tikanga practices passed down. The crowd judged the winning team by cheering for who they wanted to win, subsequently, the team against the kaupapa received the loudest cheer from the crowd thus winning the debate. Participation prizes were received by all recipients, Ngāti Awa and Tikanga Māori books, drink bottles, bags and tee-shirts provided by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi.

The next Ngāti Awa Te Toki Kapahaka event is scheduled to be held Labour Weekend 2021, at the Edgecumbe Rugby Club grounds, Patutātahi.