Te Tauihu Pō Whakanuia 55 Tau

Te Tauihu Pō Whakanuia 55 Tau, held at the Rutherford Hotel, was a night of glitz and glamour to remember, honour and uplift all those who had been involved in the growth of kapa haka since the establishment in 1970 of the region’s governing body, Te Tauihu Kapa Haka Inc.

Chairperson Sonny Alesana said it was an incredibly special evening. It was not often the community had the opportunity to come together to look back and celebrate all that had been achieved, he said.

“Fifty-five years, when you think about it in this current environment, that’s an amazing feat. But we have made it through because we stick together. And we stick together because the kaupapa is bigger than all of us.”

The organisation started in 1970 as Te Upoko o te Waka-a-Māui and later changed its name to Te Tauihu o te Waka a Māui Māori Culture Council. Reflecting the times, the organisation would now be known as Te Tauihu Kapa Haka Inc, Alesana said.

The anniversary ball was also a chance to recognise those who had dedicated much of their lives to the kapa haka community.

Vice-chairperson Janis de Thierry took to the stage to honour previous life membership awardees, Priscilla Paul and Jane du Feu. Along with the late Joseph Paul, Priscilla and Jane were awarded the honour in 2000.

“Here, we have two stalwarts who laid a strong pathway for us and everything we do here; they are women who have held strong in so many facets of our hapori Māori in Te Tauihu.

“We would not be in the same place without them.”

The evening also saw four new life memberships awarded, to Tania Alesana, Janis de Thierry, Wayne Hippolite and Tom Alesana, all of whom have devoted decades to the revitalisation of kapa haka.

“What we do, is we serve. To be Māori is to serve,” said Hippolite, also recognising the many who had ensured he had a pathway in te ao kapa haka to follow.

“Without there, we would not be here.”

After an evening of hearty and emotional waiata, it was time for The Betty-Anne Band to take the stage and the dancing continued into the night.

Te Tauihu kapa Inc send a huge mihi to everyone involved in pulling this incredible night of celebration together: our Kōmiti & Pou Takawaenga, our taiohi crew, life members, whānau, past and active Kapa Haka and Te Tauihu Kaihaka. Also, a special mihi to our eight iwi, Waitaha whānau, our MC Thomas Mitai, city and district councillors and our sponsors who came to support and celebrate a beautiful night.

You can see more photos from this special occasion on the Te Tauihu Kapa Haka Facebook page.