Corrella and L.A.B. have collaborated on a new waiata especially created for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025 to the excitement of both Corrella and L.A.B. fans and Te Matatini.
Commissioned by Te Matatini, the official song emphasises the collective strength and spiritual unity represented by the Festival and the host – Te Kāhui Maunga.
Tā Herewini Parata, Chair says “it’s exciting to have Corrella and L.A.B. collaborate on the official waiata for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025. The waiata ‘We Belong’ is about Kotahitanga (unity) and champions a place for us all in Aotearoa including a place for te reo Māori and traditional Māori performing arts.”
Corrella’s Pipiwharauroa Campbell says “I grew up as a kapa haka kid and I’ve always loved watching Te Matatini.” He says there’s a wairua to it and for anyone who has gone, there is a feeling you get when Te Matatini is calling you to come and watch. It’s a call to everyone. Ahakoa, ko wai no hea (regardless of where you are from).
Pipiwharauroa said he enjoyed earlier Te Matatini waiata, especially ‘Te Matatini ki te ao’ produced by Rob Ruha and cohort. However, the brief for the waiata for Te Kāhui Maunga was to create a waiata with more English than te reo Māori, as a way of trying to capture all of iwi whānui.
“Like the song says ‘we belong’ because everyone belongs at Te Matatini, it embraces the feeling of unity and togetherness which Te Matatini brings” says Pipiwharauroa.
Carl Ross, Te Matatini Manahautū | Chief Executive says, “the theme song ‘We Belong’ is designed to be a song for everyone, regardless of their level of proficiency in te reo Maori.”
“At its heart, Te Matatini is inclusive of the many faces of our community, welcoming and embracing everyone to feel connected and to participate in the celebration of kapa haka excellence.”
Since 2009 Te Matatini has championed inclusivity through initiatives like Haka Translate, which now includes six languages, ensuring kapa haka is accessible to audiences around the world.
“We encourage everyone to embrace what Te Matatini embodies and upholds which are deeply held values of our culture - kotahitanga, manaaki and the value of inclusiveness, where all people can enjoy the beauty, passion and expression of kapa haka,” says Carl.
The successful collaboration between Corrella and L.A.B. featured vocals led by Joel Shadbolt (L.A.B) and Pipiwharauroa & Ngawaiwera Campbell (Corrella) and is available on our Te Matatini YouTube Channel.
‘We Belong’ has been picked up by Spotify with over 80,000 plays and Rolling Stone AU/NZ has written a piece for their followers, taking our Te Matatini waiata international.