LOREEN HENARE (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Whakaue), Kaiwhakahaere-a-Rohe | Regional Director
Loreen has over 30 years’ experience in te ao haka including competing on stage at Te Matatini, leading as a tutor, supporting kapa as a choreographer, and more recently in her role as Kaiwhakahaere a-Rohe | Regional Director at Te Matatini.
“I’ve performed at Te Matatini for a long time now and the experiences I had, relationships I’ve made, and learning I’ve been able to receive has led me to this role providing me the opportunity to continue to serve our people off stage. I’ve been blessed as a performer, tutor, choreographer, leader, administrator and now as Regional Director.”
Being able to work with people and serve with whakaiti (humility) is paramount to Lor (sic). “Māori are too sharp, and they will sniff out arrogance and agenda before you walk in the door. Listening and patience are critical in serving our Rohe.”
The Regional Team comprises myself, Regional Administrator Teatapo Donoghue, Kapa Haka Administrators Aqua Aukuso and Te Aumihi Prescott, and 12 Pou Takawaenga:
Te Taitokerau – Chris Henare
Tāmaki Makaurau – Patsy Whaanga
Tainui – Francis ‘Frankie’ West
Te Arawa – Watu Mihinui
Mātaatua – Naomi Herewini-Houia
Te Tairāwhiti – Te Owaina Gibson
Ngāti Kahungunu – Elizabeth Clarke
Te Whanganui a-Tara – Ginny Maxwell
Rangitāne – Nuwyne Te Awe Awe Mohi
Te Kāhui Maunga – Cheryl Luke-Maraki
Waitaha – Kerrie-Anna Tana.
“Together we are focused on supporting rohe and all reanga to flourish and that their aspirations are realised.”
There are many wonderful opportunities and kapa haka is for all New Zealanders of all races, gender, age and ability. Reo and tikanga are developed, nurtured, encouraged and challenged. Creativity is expressed and our Pa and Marae are used and therefore are alive.
Te Ao Haka engages our Tamariki at school and is sometimes the single reason a child attends school. Haka nurtures a person’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, and improves social wellbeing through connecting with your community.
“One aspiration I have is for Kaihaka to be recognised similarly to athletes of a high-performance sport, as both require a level of excellence to succeed. Perhaps in time, a form of professionalism may be applied e.g. performers may receive individual recognition as in a medal, trophy or ring like in the big elite sports, or performers are subsidised or paid a performance fee,” says Lor.
TEATAPO DONOGHUE (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Whānau-a-Apanui, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu), Regional Administrator
He Potaka nō ngā Iwi o Te Arawa waka
He Wikaire nō Whānau-a-Apanui, Ngāpuhi hoki
He Kumeroa nō Ngāti Tuwharetoa
He Hokianga nō Ngāti Kahungunu
He hononga ki Waitara, ki Wanaka anō hoki
Ko Donoghue te ingoa whānau o tōku whaiaipō
Ko Teatapo Donoghue ahau
Teatapo is the Te Matatini Regional Administrator, providing administration support to all Rohe, Pou Takawaenga, and the Te Matatini Regional Director.
A key deliverable in her role is to support the operationalisation of the Te Matatini strategic vision and outcomes, based on Te Pītau Whakarei, the 10-year Te Matatini strategic plan. There are 8 key result areas and Rohe are required to meet 4 each year.
“With a clear vision at Te Matatini, Mana Motuhake ki te Kainga, Matatū, Mataora, Matatini ki te Ao – rohe led, Te Matatini enables me to support development in our communities to be a driving force for our people in all aspects of life, not just Kapa Haka excellence.”
“I enjoy the connections made through kapa haka, and I am honoured to work with influential people in their respective roles striving for the same outcome – growth and prosperity for the betterment of our people.”
“Watching people from different cultures experience kapa haka or anything to do with Te Ao Māori - sports, academic achievements, or just the way we hold ourselves, all of it, makes me ‘proud to be Māori’. But Te Matatini, being the pinnacle of Kapa Haka, ranks highest for me.”
“I have watched and admired kaihaka on stage for many years, now I get to see them put pen to paper and rohe are supported to grow and develop to achieve their kapa haka aspirations, and audiences are able to experience kapa haka. As Māori we are a welcoming people, we love hard and protect with our hearts on our sleeve. Working in Te Matatini is like being at home without being at home ‘ka mate kainga tahi, ka ora kainga rua’.”
AQUA AUKUSO (Te Whānui-ā-Apanui, Ngai Tahu, Te Whakatōhea, NgāPuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Awa), Kapa Haka Administrator
Sir Monita Delamere – Te Whānui-ā-Apanui, Ngai Tahu
Lady Mary Delamere (Thornton) – Te Whakatōhea, Nga Puhi, Ngāti Hine
Wi Keepa Kaipara – Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi
Kyra Te Maioha Kaipara (Warbrick) – Ngāti Awa
Heremia Delamere - Te Whānui-a-Apanui, Ngai Tahu, Te Whakatohea, Nga Puhi, Ngāti Hine
Hinemihi Delamere (Kaipara) - Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Awa
Koki Telesia Aukuso (Ofisa) – Faleasiu
Falaniko Paulo Aukuso – Luatuanu’u Ko Deanna Delamere tōku māmā
Ko Lui Aukuso tōku pāpā
Ko Aqua Aukuso tōku ingoa
Aqua (pron. ah-kua) is one of the Kaitakawaenga Kaupapa Whanui – Kapa Haka Liaison at Te Matatini and when the role came up she didn’t want to miss the opportunity. Now however she is supporting the team preparing for the Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025 Festival as a Kapa Haka Administrator. In this role she is responsible for the administration of the 55 Kapa Haka teams competing next year.
“Te Matatini is the biggest Kapa Haka Festival in the world and I wanted to be a part of that journey.”
“The most excited part I am looking forward to is that this will be my first Te Matatini Festival. I am excited to just be amongst it as it is the biggest Māori festival.”
“The part I enjoy about being a Kaitakawaenga Kaupapa Whanui is knowing that the mahi I do plays a big part towards the Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025 Festival. I also enjoy engaging with people, making new connections, and building strong relationships.”
“My kapa haka aspiration is for people to know that Te Matatini is not just a Māori festival, it is the way we showcase our culture.”
TE AUMIHI PRESCOTT (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Wehi Wehi, Ngāti Kapumanawawhiti, Ngāti Huia, Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu), Kapa Haka Administrator
Ko Te Aho Matua te tahūhū o tōku whare, ko te reo me ōna tikanga ngā heke whakamau, ko te whānau, te whanaungatanga ngā pou, Tīhei Mauriora!
Ki te taha o tōku māmā he uri ahau nō Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Wehi Wehi ki Manakau, Ngāti Kapumanawawhiti, me Ngāti Huia.
Ka whakapapa hoki ki Ngāti Toa Rangatira.
Ki te taha o tōku koro he uri ahau no Tūhoe pōtiki, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, Porourangi, Waikaremoana, me ngā hapūtanga o ngā Hine o te Uruwera hoki.
He Ngāti Pākeha tōku pāpā, ka whakapapa hoki ahau ki ngā iwi taketake o Amerika.
Ko Te Aumihi Ngātakutai Prescott ahau.
Te Aumihi is a Kaitakawaenga Kaupapa Whānui where she provides administration support to the competition manager, key coordinator for Judges tasks and events, and to coordinates communication with Kapa and Judges. After the Te Matatini festival there are other events across Aotearoa that Te Aumihi will provide support for.
"My role gives me the opportunity to work within a Māori organisation that places Māori health and development at the forefront, so I knew this is where I wanted to be.”
Being educated through Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa was a major part of Te Aumihi’s early life and has given her the confidence to walk not only in Te Ao Māori but confidently in Te Ao Pākeha.
“Growing up, Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival was always an exciting time for my whānau. What excites me most now is experiencing it from a new perspective as a kaimahi. I get to see what goes on behind the scenes and witness the details and dynamics involved in planning such a significant event.”
“I know that Kapa Haka plays a significant role in revitalising te reo Māori. For me, I hope people realise that Te Matatini is not just a Kapa Haka festival; it has a profound impact on many aspects of our lives.”
“Te Matatini Society Incorporated is focused on delivering excellence through Kapa Haka, fostering growth, and promoting the positive impact it has on our people and our well-being and working here is an incredible opportunity.”