The Blessing of the Te Matatini Mahau

“We are privileged to have this Mahau in our rohe. Its presence honours all the festivals before ours and reaffirms our commitment to manaaki all who are joining us at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga,” says Elijah Pue, Chairman of Te Kāhui Maunga Society Incorporated.

Wharehoka Wano spokesperson for the iwi of Te Kāhui Maunga was joined by representatives from local Ngāti Te Whiti hapū, Te Ātiawa and other iwi of Te Kāhui Maunga to receive the Mahau.

“Having the Mahau in our rohe is special. We are looking forward to seeing it on display along with the wonderful kapa haka performances,” says Wharehoka.

Standing over 13 metres tall with a 30-metre span and weighing about 26 tonnes, the Mahau was carved by 20 carvers from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) and was first unveiled at Te Matatini in Rotorua in 2013. Since then, the Mahau, carved from all native wood including huge kauri carbon-dated at 4,500 years old, has become a permanent stage fixture at Te Matatini festivals.

“Together, we honour the strength and diversity of iwi, hapū and whānau sharing a collective responsibility to preserve, promote and elevate our unique traditional artforms,” says Tā Herewini Parata, Heremana | Chair of Te Matatini National Board.

The Mahau, called Te Matatini, celebrates Te Matatini traditions and connectivity across the motu and acknowledges shared origins. It is a taonga which embraces kaihaka and adds prestige to the largest kapa haka festival in the world.

“The blessing of the Mahau is a significant and magical moment as it connects past festivals with Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga,” says Carl Ross, Te Manahautū | Chief Executive of Te Matatini Society Inc. “When kaihaka stand on the Te Matatini stage, the mana of the Mahau and those that have stood before stands with them.”