Pūmanawa - Hōtaka tuawhā - Ngā Tūmanako

Photo: Reproduced with permission of the artist via Auckland Arts Festival

Pūmanawa is a celebration of kapa haka – but with a difference. The main outlet for kapa haka performance is at Te Matatini, held every two years. Unfortunately, the event scheduled to happen in 2021 was cancelled. Te Matatini is set to return in 2022, to be held in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Te Matatini is a competitive event; Pūmanawa celebrates getting together.

There are four groups on stage in the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre. They each gave a solo performance, just as they would at Te Matatini, but they also joined together in various combinations to enjoy each others’ company and learn each others’ songs – something that would never happen at the competition

Pūmanawa the word means “talented, gifted, beating heart” – and as the programme booklet says, that “describes the essence of kapa haka; it is the heartbeat of Māoridom”.

Also powerful in the kaupapa is the concept of legacy and mātauranga tuku iho, knowledge handed down through generations. We remember those who have come before. And we pay special tribute on this occasion to Sir Pita Sharples, who did so much to foster and grow the art of kapa haka – he was in the audience at the Aotea Centre.

Other performances at Pūmanawa:

Recorded by RNZ Concert in Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, 21 March 2021
Recording and mixing engineer: Adrian Hollay
Producer: Tim Dodd