Ngāti Whakaue wow packed Bowl as fans flock to see Te Matatini begin

12:21 pm today

Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira, Māori news journalist

Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue at 2025 Te Matatini Festival at Pukekura/Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises

Kapa haka fans sprinted through the gates of the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth this morning to secure prime positions as Day 3 of Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga got under way.

First on the stage on Thursday morning was Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue from Te Arawa whose emotional tribute to the late Tā Robert Gillies, a stalwart of the Māori Battalion, drew tears from viewers and performers alike.

In a post to Facebook, the team said their theme this year was remembering and honouring their "Koro Bom".

"How could we not farewell our koroua, the last soldier of the 28th Māori Battalion, who passed in November 2024," the post read.

Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises

The group's poi was an expression of their love for those who mourned Koro Bom at his marae Te Papaiouru, including, Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Kuīni Nga wai hono i te po, the families of the 28th Māori Battalion.

Their waiata-a-ringa was a song used during World War I by kuia to teach people how to write vowels so they could send letters to their loved ones fighting overseas, while their haka "Hoari Karauna" criticised the Crown for failing to award medals to the families of the Māori Battalion for decades.

The group's final item "Takoto Noa Rā" was a final farewell to "our hero, our koroua, Koro Bom".

Spectators were visibly crying as the Ngāti Whakaue finished their performance, which is certain to be one of the most memorable at Te Matatini 2025.

Later today first time team Te Taumata o Apanui will take the stage, a star-packed rōpū featuring Māori singer songwriters Rob Ruha, Ria Hall, Troy Kingi and Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi.