18/02/2025
TE MATATINI O TE KĀHUI MAUNGA - #4 MANAAKITANGA
One of the most beautiful aspects of our preparations here at home, has been the journey of Te Mauri o Te Matatini throughout our rohe to bring us together! E mihi ana ki a Ngāti Whātua mō tērā kākano rangatira. Here are some insights into the preparations from home.
🗻 If you are attending the pōwhiri at Māratahu Huakai (Yarrows Stadium) on Mon 24 Feb, you will get to see a beautiful representation of all the parts of our beautiful rohe Te Kāhui Maunga He Kāhui Tupua He Kāhui Wairua! It starts at 10am so don’t be late! 😘
🗻 I’ve already talked about our kapa giving up their marae bases for other travelling kapa, but our kura kaupapa across Taranaki are also rolling out kura kainga for the week, so travelling kapa can be hosted there - To be fair, I’m not sure how many of our kids were going to be at kura that week anyway! 😂🫣
🗻 Our kai sovereignty whānau planted out our maara across the rohe months ago and are in the thick of harvesting to support our hosting and marae - Kawakawa and horopito as supplements for our kai and 2 tonnes of taewa/rīwai so far! 🥔🥔
🗻 Our Māori Land Incs and their partners are also in the mix supplying mīti and dairy products such as miraka, pata and tīhi to support our hosting and marae.👌🏾
🗻 While our collective iwi have a pātaka ika and whanaunga in Te Tau Ihu and Wharekauri, many of our kaimoana beds in Taranaki are under threat. Much of our coastline currently has a rāhui over it. If you are thinking of going to kohikohi kai, please do some research then THINK AGAIN!!! 👍🏾
🗻 We have approx 700 volunteers making things happen for the week - ushers, shuttle drivers, cart drivers, venue hosts, kapa liaisons, cleaning, para kore, pāhake manaaki, tamariki activities etc, etc, etc. Local businesses and organisations are providing their kaimahi with volunteer days so they can help out. Whānau coming home to muck in! They are doing this for the kaupapa, so please BE KIND to all our ringa hāpai, our “vollies”! 🤩
🗻 We have held business preparedness hui with our local pākihi to make sure they are stocked and staffed up, so they are ready! There is a great range of cafes and eateries throughout the rohe, so if you are planning on eating out I strongly suggest you BOOK AHEAD! 😋
🗻 A number of our Taranaki whānau will also be supporting with SMEAR YOUR MEA. The crew will be cycling from Ōrākei on Tues 18 Feb to Taranaki and around the maunga before arriving at the Te Matatini pōwhiri on 24 Feb. Please get out and support the riders and the pop-up clinics, but most importantly get your checks done whānau! ❤️
🗻 We know that you are all about the kapahaka but if you do get a chance to explore our rohe, there are some choice as things to check out (especially if you are visiting for the first time). See the website link in the comments for an overview of those choice as things! 🙂
🗻 Te Matatini will put out updated festival site plans real soon and there is a heap of festival related info on their website. More to follow on travel and transport … 👍🏾
📷 Photo: Our beautiful Aunties Bib and Bub (stalwarts of Patea Māori Club and Aotea Utanganui) who just last week celebrated their birthday! 😍
