Kaa Williams shared insights about Te Matatini, recalling the festival's moving moments, the significance of kapa haka in reconnecting youth with their culture, and the intrinsic beauty found within the mōteatea. She emphasised the depth of language within the ancient phrases of mōteatea and the importance of kapa haka in teaching new words to children while recognising their ancestral origins.

About the speaker

Kaa Williams

Ko Kaa Williams

Tipuranga: Ruatahuna – Kura o Huiarau Murupara – Te Kura o Rangitahi Waiohau – Te Kura o Waiohau Kura Tuarua – Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kāreti o Hukarere - Kura Whakangungu Kaiwhakaako – Ardmore Te Matatini:

1. 1990 – Kaiwhakawa – i Waitangi mo te Kapa Haka o Ruatoki • Te Huinganui o ngā waka ki Waitangi • Te Karanga a Mrs. Reedy i te moana – Te whakautu a ngā Tohora • Te tū tuatahi a Tuhoe i roto i te Polynesian Festival i Waitangi.
2. Ngā kitenga i ngā whakaaturanga i ngā mahi Kapa Haka a Te Matatini • Ka whaimana te reo Māori i ngā huihui a Te Matatini • Ka hurihia te ingoa ki a Te Matatini (Wharehuia mā) • Ka uru māua ko Kepa Stirling ki te whakahaere i te/ngā Kaiwhakawā i Te Matatini • Ngā kupu whakawā a Te Wharehuia mā.
3. Te huri o te mana o Te Matatini. Ka roa Te Matatini e haere ana ka whiwhi pūtea hai whakahaere i ā ia anō. Inaianei kua tino piki tōna mana, kua noho matua tonu i roto i ngā whakaaro huri noa i Aotearoa, tae atu ki Te Kāwanatanga. • Kua haere ā rohe mai ki Te Matatini • Kua taea e ngā Kura Tuarua te whiwhi pūtea mo a rātau mahi Kapa Haka • Kua hihiri te reo Māori i waenganui i ngā iwi Māori • Kua kaha te hiahia ki te ako anō i te reo, kia tae atu ki tētahi taumata kē atu.
4. Kua tū matua te mana o te reo Māori i waenga, kaua mo te tangata Māori noa iho engari mo te tangata Pakehā tonu, me ngā momo tangata katoa o Aotearoa. Kua kaha ake rātau ki te hopu mai i ngā kupu Māori, ka whakamahi ki runga i te pouaka whakaata.