February 24, 2017
Political rivals clash as pool of death swirls by
Labour MP Peeni Henare says Te Matatini is kaupapa Maori in action.
The Tamaki Makaurau MP has been sharing MC duties at the national kapa haka competitions with the Maori Party’s Marama Fox while their party bosses scrap over whether the Maori Party can still be called kaupapa Maori.
He says kaupapa Maori isn't a bargaining chip, but if politicians want to see what moves Maori they they should come to Te Matatini.
Performers have come from as far away as Australia to take part.
"We talk about how hard it is to get from Tamaki Makaurau to Te Matatini, these people came from Poipiripi and gave it everything on stage. They left it all out on the stage and came back to their whanau and their communiuties here in Aotearoa and that is just a true testament to their belief in the kaupapa," Mr Henare says.
Todays’ line-up has been tagged the pool of death, with some of the country’s top teams vyingfor the three finals spots includingWhangara Mai Tawhiti, Motai Tangata Rau, Nga Pou o Roto, Nga Tumanako drawn from Te Kura o Hoani Waititi alumni, and 2015 champions Te Whanau a Apanui.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH PEENI HENARE
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