Life Members

Tā Tīmoti is a New Zealand academic of Māori language and performing arts and known as an expert and a leader in language revitalisation. 

A noted composer of waiata and haka, he has published widely in both te reo Māori and English. Tā Tīmoti established the Māori Department at the University of Waikato in 1972 and remained its chair and professor until 1992. He was conferred honorary doctorates by Victoria University of Wellington in 2003, and the University of Waikato in 2008. 

He was the first Māori language commissioner, between 1987 and 1999, and then was executive director of Te Kohanga Reo National Trust from 1993 until 2003, chair of the Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Festival (the predecessor of Te Matatini), and Te Māngai Pāho.

With Wharehuia Milroy and Pou Temara, he established Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, the Institute of Excellence in the Māori Language, serving as its executive director. 

Appointed to the Queen’s Service Order in 1993, he was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2017. In 2020 he was honoured with the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in the non-fiction category and was elected a Companion of Royal Society Te Apārangi. Tā Tīmoti won the 2021 Te Mūrau o te Tuhi Māori Language Award at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. He had been joint winner of the same award two years earlier.

Trevor commonly says he has ‘MBA’ status: he’s a humble ‘Māori Boy from Awahou’. His origins are a world rich in marae life, church singing and worship, and the love of whānau. Trevor’s personal brand of exuberance and ease with people naturally evolved to include commercial performances to tourists; he has also honed his skills through competitive forums such as Hui Tōpū and Hui Aranga.

Trevor represents the voice of experience and expertise in all facets of haka. Honours he has achieved include winning kaitātaki tāne in 1973, leading Ngāti Rangiwewehi alongside his late wife Atareta from 1972 to 2007 and achieving two national titles, in 1983 and 1996.

As an elected Te Matatini life members, and regional Chair of Te Arawa Kapa Haka, Trevor remains active in governance, advocacy and stewardship in te ao haka. Trevor has been a Rotorua Lakes councillor since 1977. He was Deputy Mayor of Rotorua from 2002 to 2013 and is the Council’s current Cultural Ambassador. 

Trevor Maxwell is a founding settlor and original board member of Toi Māori Aotearoa, having served the organisation continuously since 1996. As an advocate for Toi Māori Aotearoa across government and through our national and international networks, Trevor ensures Toi Māori Aotearoa is recognised across iwi Māori and the arts and cultural sector. 

In 2002, Trevor was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Māori, arts and local body affairs. In 2017, he received a special Local Government Excellence Award acknowledging his over forty years of outstanding service to the Rotorua community.

Kua hau ngā rongonui o tēnei wahine i te ao kapa haka, hei kaihaka, hei kaitātaki, hei kaiako, hei kaiwhiriwhiri hoki. Kua tata ki te 80 tau ia e mau ana i tēnei tū kaupapa. Ko ia tēnei i whānau mai i Tūranganui a Kiwa, ka tipu mai ki ōna tīpuna, ki a Maraea rāua ko Te Hira Paenga i Mangahoui.

Nō te tau 1968 ka noho ia ko tētahi o ngā pia tuatahi o te Karapu Māori o Te Hāhi Mihinare o Tāmaki Makaurau i whakaakohia e Kīngi Īhaka rāua ko Napi Waaka. Nā ēnei pakeke tonu o taua wā i maunu ai te kaupapa o te Polynesian Festival. 

I te tau 1969 ka tū ko te kapa o Te Roopū Manutaki, ko Te Aroha tōna kaitātaki wahine. He kaupapa nui a Te Roopū Manutaki me te marae o Hoani Waititi mō ngā rangatahi o te tāone nui. E rua ngā wā i toa ai a Te Roopū Manutaki i te whakataetae ā-motu. 
Ko tā Te Aroha hei kaiako wahine he whakatakoto i ngā nekeneke, i ngā ringaringa, i ngā whiunga o te poi. Ko ia anō tērā i kaingākaunui ki te whakatipu i te rangatahi Māori ki te aroha, ki te whakapono, ki te ako i ngā taonga a ngā tīpuna.

Mai i tōna ritāiatanga, kua noho a Te Aroha hei kaiwhiriwhiri i ngā whakataetae kapa haka kura tuatahi, tuarua, pakeke anō hoki. Kua noho hoki hei pou tautoko i ngā kapa haka o Te Uru o Tāmaki me ngā tini kapa e piri nei ki te marae o Hoani Waititi. He wahine toa, he tīwaiwaka nā Māui, auē tiori rau e he ha!

Tā Pita went to secondary school at Waipukurau District High School and Te Aute Māori Boys College, where he developed his skills in kapa haka and a passion for Māori language and culture. He went on to establish the New Zealand National School of Māori Weaponry, where he became Tumu Whakarae (Sacerdotal Head and Master).

He studied at Auckland University and trained as a teacher. In 1977 he was awarded a PhD from Auckland University in Anthropology and Linguistics. In 1982 he was appointed inaugural Chairman of the Ngāti Kahungunu Tribal Runanga, which he chaired for eight years.

For eight years he headed the Office of the Race Relations Conciliator and then became Director of Culture at the Department of Māori Affairs. He has also been a Professor of Education at Auckland University and an Adjunct Professor at Unitec.

He was instrumental in the establishment of Hoani Waititi Marae throughout the 1970s, and has been actively involved there ever since, including as chairman for 37 years. He also led the establishment of the first Kura Kaupapa Māori, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi. Tā Pita has belonged to numerous Māori community and education organisations and has been a consultant to many government agencies and professional boards, including a member of Te Waka Toi Board (Creative NZ Arts Council from 1997 to 2003).

During his kapa haka career Tā Pita received the Te Matatini National Male Leader award five times, and Tohunga Tu Taua – Te Whare Tu Taua o Aotearoa in 1985.

In 1984 Tā Pita led the kapa haka at the pōwhiri (opening ceremony) of the Te Māori exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

After the foreshore and seabed controversy in 2003–2004, Sharples joined forces with Tariana Turia a former minister in the Labour Party government who resigned over the issue. Turia and Sharples organised a new party based around Turia's Te Tai Hauāuru seat which was launched on 7 July 2004 as the Māori Party with Sharples as co-leader.

Sharples was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the Māori people, in the 1990 Queen's Birthday Honours. In the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services as a Member of Parliament and to Māori.

Former politician, educator and kapa haka exponent Tā Pita Sharples received Te Tohu Kaitiaki Tikanga Pūoru – Keeper of Tradition award at the 2021 Waiata Māori Awards. The award recognised Tā Pita’s lifelong contribution to the retention and promotion of traditional waiata, through education and his role establishing Tāmaki based kapa haka Te Roopū Manutaki in 1968.

He is also a 2024 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Icon Whakamana Hiranga for Kapa Haka, mau rākau.

From a young age Tangiwai has been immersed in kapa haka, having learnt under giants of Tairāwhiti kapa haka including Te Kani Te Ua, Ani Taihuka, Albert Whaanga, Bill Kerekere, and Ngāpō and Pīmia Wehi. She has performed with and led kapa haka contingents around the glove as a cultural ambassador for New Zealand and continues to share the Māori culture with the world.  

Since the early 1980s, Tangiwai and her husband George, have served as leaders of Waihīrere Māori Club, the only kapa haka to have performed at every national festival since 1972. Waihīrere is one of the most decorated clubs in the world, having been overall champions five times (1972, 1979, 1988, 1998 and 2002).  

Tangiwai was made an honorary life member of Te Matatini, and in 2016 she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to her community and the performing arts. 

For over fifty years, George Ria has had a strong presence in the kapa haka world; he has spent thirty of those years as the leader of Waihīrere Māori Club. His commitment to kapa haka has seen him hold various roles within his community at a regional, national and international level. Notably, George served as the Tairāwhiti delegate on the National Committee for several decades and has been a trusted advisor to the government in Wellington.

Known for his commanding leadership style, his passion for the development of Māori in general and rangatahi in particular is evident through his mentorship of those who have come through Waihīrere, including many kaihaka who are now leaders of other groups in the competition. In 2002, George was made an honorary life member.

Joe spent thirty-two years with Te Kapa Haka o Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, performing in thirteen national festivals as the group’s leader. He also served as the Waikato district delegate on the National Committee for sixteen years. His first performance was in 1979, and he credits Tā Tīmoti Kāretu for his long-standing involvement with kapa haka. Through kapa haka he learnt to speak te reo Māori.

After retiring from the stage in 2008, Joe became a judge, eventually taking on the role of head judge in 2019. Prior to this, Joe had served as a judge at many senior, regional and secondary school competitions. Joe was first introduced to the judging scene in the early 1980s, when he was invited by Tīmoti Kāretu to shadow judge a Mātaatua regional competition, in Whakatāne.

His role was to mark each performance and meet with the actual competition judges afterwards, to share his marks and comments. The competition judges at that event included John Rangihau, Tīmoti Kāretu and Kaa Williams.

One of Joe’s fondest memories of performing at the national festival is placing first in te reo Māori with Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato. The winning team received a pounamu pendant in memory of Ngoi Pewhairangi, which was gifted to Joe by the team’s tutor, Tā Tīmoti Kāretu. In 2018, Joe was made a life member of the Tainui Waka Cultural Trust and a life member of Te Matatini.

He whītiki o te kī, he kaihāpai i te reo rangatira o ōna mātua, tūpuna me ōna iwi huhua, kua roa a Tāwhirimatea Williams e whakapau kaha ana ki te orangatonutanga o te reo me ōna tikanga, me ngā mahi o te ao haka. He kaiārahi mō te kapa haka o Ruatoki i te tau 1990, i eke tōna kapa ki ngā whakataeatae a motu.

Ko Tāwhirimatea te kaitātaki, te kaiwhakaako, te kaituhi, te pou hoki ki ngā mahi haka kia whakakaha anō i nga tikanga o tōna iwi o Tūhoe nō roto i ngā mahi haka.

Nō te tau 2005, ka noho a Tāwhirimatea hei kaiwhiriwhiri mō ngā whakataetae o Te Matatini, ā, i te tau 2017, ka noho hei matatoki mō ngā kaiwhiriwhiri. Kua whakawhiwhia e Tāwhirimatea me tōna makau a Kaa i te tohu a Tā Kīngi Īhaka mō ā rāua mahi nui mō te reo me te ao haka. Otirā i whakaingoatia a Tāwhirimatea hei mema mō te takoha auroa o Te Matatini.

He wahine māia, he wahine hūmarie, otirā, he toki ki te whakairo kupu, me te whiu o te pene i ngā mahi kaiwhiriwhiri. Kua roa a Kaa Williams e hāpai ana i ngā kaupapa haka hei kaiwhiriwhiri mō Te Hui Ahurei o Tūhoe, i Ruatoki, i Rotorua – Mātaatua, i Ōpōtiki anō hoki mō te Delamere Cup.

He wahine whakaniko i te kupu, whakairoiro i ngā ringa poi me te reo rōreka kia ororeka ngā waiata. Mō ngā tau roa i tautoko ia i tāna hoa tāne a Tawhirimatea ki ēnei mahi i a ia e whakaako ana i Te Kapa Haka o Ruatoki. Kua whakawhiwhia e Kaa me tōna hoa tāne ā Tawhirimatea i te tohu a Tā Kīngi Ihaka mō ā rāua mahi nui mō te reo me te ao haka. Otirā, is whakaingoatia a Kaa hei mema mō te takoha auroa o Te Matatini. He wahine kaingākau ki ngā mahi a Rēhia, me tana mōhio, koinei tētahi ara e tipu ai te kōingo o te ngākau ki te kōrero i tō tātou reo rangatira.

Dr Turuhira Hare stands as a distinguished leader, expert, and guardian of Kapa Haka, whose extraordinary contributions over more than five decades has contributed to shaping our traditional artform.

Her mastery spans every dimension of Kapa Haka — from kaitātaki, tutoring, and composing, to adjudicating and mentoring future generations. This breadth of expertise reflects not only her technical skill but also her deep understanding of both its artistic expression and the cultural significance of kapa haka.

A leader within Tūhoe and a respected figure across the motu, Dr. Hare’s enduring service to Te Matatini and her international reputation as a master practitioner affirm her standing as one of our great custodians of our cultural heritage.

Beyond the stage, Dr. Hare has been a tireless advocate for the preservation and revitalisation of te reo Māori and tikanga, ensuring these taonga thrive within education, performance, and community life. Her work as an educator, from primary through to tertiary levels has inspired countless students, performers, and emerging leaders.

Dr. Turuhira Hare’s lifetime of dedication, excellence, and service exemplifies the highest ideals of Kapa Haka and cultural leadership. Her legacy is not only the excellence she models but the countless voices she has inspired in every haka performed, every waiata composed and every leader who carries her teachings.

Rikirangi Gage is a distinguished Kapa Haka leader, composer, and cultural guardian whose immense contribution to the artform spans more than 40 years. As Chief Executive Officer of Te Rūnanga o Te Whānau a Apanui, he exemplifies leadership that seamlessly weaves traditional knowledge with contemporary practice.

Rikirangi’s influence is most visible through his role as tutor and composer for Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui, a kapa haka team that has repeatedly claimed the Duncan MacIntyre Trophy and proudly represented Aotearoa on the world stage — from the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland to the Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam (2016) and Hawai‘i (2024).

His artistry and direction are grounded in the distinctive traditions of Te Whānau a Apanui  reflecting his deep understanding of te reo, tikanga and unique expression of his iwi.

Beyond the stage, Rikirangi is a respected leader and mentor whose influence extends across generations. His dedication to nurturing emerging talent ensures that the language, values, and identity of Te Whānau a Apanui continue to thrive.

As a master practitioner, a passionate mentor, and a guardian of culture, his longstanding, sustained service, artistic excellence, and international reputation affirm his place as a Life Member of Te Matatini.

For decades, Whaea Tihi has stood as a towering pou within the kapa haka world — a master composer, fearless leader, transformative educator, and cultural guardian whose influence has resonated across generations. Her contribution to the evolution of kapa haka, especially within Te Waipounamu and among kura kaupapa Māori, is unparalleled.

As the guiding force behind Te Kotahitanga (Waitaha), Whaea Tihi helped carve a powerful legacy of excellence, innovation, and cultural integrity. Her compositions, rich in whakapapa, reo, and mātauranga Māori, have moved audiences and judges alike, shaping not only the sound but the soul of competitive kapa haka.

Beyond the stage, her pioneering work in Māori-medium education has ensured the survival and flourishing of te reo Māori. She has empowered countless rangatahi through song, haka, and storytelling, instilling in them a deep sense of identity, purpose, and pride.

Whaea Tihi’s leadership and humility embody the very essence of Te Matatini — a celebration of Māori excellence, unity, and tikanga. Her vision has not only uplifted iwi across Aotearoa but has also strengthened the cultural bedrock of our nation.

Wetini Mitai-Ngatai is a Mau Rākau tohunga, trained in the sacred art by Te Arawa tohunga Irirangi Tiakiawa. As a guardian of these traditions, he has upheld the tikanga and wairua of Mau Rākau while ensuring its transmission to future generations of kaiako and kaihaka throughout Te Arawa and beyond.

Widely recognised as a composer, choreographer, and tutor of the internationally acclaimed Te Mātārae i Ōrehu, Wetini has set new standards of excellence in Kapa Haka. Under his creative direction, his rōpū has achieved national acclaim and international recognition, and has continually set the benchmark for excellence in kapa haka. His visionary leadership has influenced a generation of performers, with many kapa haka across the motu adopting stylistic elements inspired by Wetini’s unique fusion of traditional depth and contemporary innovation.

Beyond the stage, Wetini is a passionate advocate for te reo Māori, a dedicated educator, and a champion for the integrity of Māori performing arts. His creative reach extends into film and television, where he has brought Māori narratives to life through direction and production, enriching Aotearoa’s cultural storytelling.

At his core, Wetini is a pāpā and koroua, a humble leader, steadfast in his identity and commitment to his people. His legacy is one of cultural revitalisation and artistic brilliance.  The landscape of Māori performing arts is immeasurably richer because of his lifetime of service and dedication.