Te Matatini champion on how to prepare for the pinnacle of kapa haka

Te Riina Kapea has spent hours standing on the kapa haka stage.

Her experience makes her a real asset to her kapa, Ngā Tūmanako, who are former Te Matatini champions.

Although this year, Kapea won’t be competing as she’s taking a break due to family commitments, she is still a part of the campaign for Ngā Tūmanako, helping to prepare the group for competition week.

Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga will take place at Pukekura/Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth from February 25 to March 1.

The festival is the biggest celebration of traditional Māori performing arts in the world, with around 55 groups competing in front of thousands over the course of the week.

Kapea said the work that goes into preparing for the competition is intense.

“The preparation is hard out, practising every weekend and throughout the week as well,” Kapea said.

Kapea works as a Māori health services adviser at ACC and competed with Ngā Tūmanako when they won Te Matatini in Wellington in 2019.

Kapea grew up as a kapa haka kid, watching her mum and dad in their non competitive whānau team, going to practices and learning haka.

She took part in kapa haka at primary school, but took a break during high school due to other sporting commitments. Towards the end of her high school years, she reconnected with kapa haka and went to her first Te Matatini in 2015 as a reserve.

As a previous champion, Kapea knows exactly what it takes to end up on top at Te Matatini.

“It’s as much physical, as it is spiritual and mental,” she said.

“Physically, we train hard to prepare our bodies. I’m a qualified personal trainer, I do CrossFit, and I have played a lot of sports growing up – rugby, sevens, touch, netball, athletics, and swimming, but nothing compares to kapa haka.

“Try running at your fastest pace, squatting and jumping, while singing and still trying to look good.”

As well as being good fitness, kapa haka is grounding, Kapea said.

“Kapa haka targets every aspect of who I am. It’s the only thing I’ve found that can do all of it.

“Kapa haka hits every pou [pillar]. It’s my whole being, connecting me back to my taiao [environment].”

Kapea said rongoā is an important part of the preparation for Te Matatini.

“I use rongoā sessions for my wairua [spiritual wellbeing] and hinengaro [emotional wellbeing] to prepare for competition.

“During the preparation months, our wairua gets thrashed. I use the week before competition as a self-care week and book in nails, lashes, and visit my rongoā practitioner in Hamilton.”

Kapea uses the rongoā session to clear her mind.

“We do a healing session together with karakia for my wairua and hinengaro,” she said.

Kapea also uses rongoā to take members of Ngā Tūmanako through recovery.