Marae celebration enhances kinship (+ video)

Babes in arms, or in this case the frontpack of a mum from Te Koutu Marae, were part of the inaugural Ngati Whakaue Whakanuia event. Photo / Ben Fraser

Image 1 of 17: 070914bf1 Ngati Whakaue Whakanuia held at Te Papaiouru Marae, Ohinemutu. Te Hurunga Marae peform Photo/Ben Fraser

There is a new pride in belonging to Ngati Whakaue following its inaugural Whakanuia event. The two-day celebration of the young, old and everyone in between culminated in a kapa haka competition to foster connections with marae.

Whakanuia took place at Te Papaiouru Marae in Ohinemutu on Friday and Saturday. On Friday the Future Makers Day for predominantly Year 12 and 13 students gave an insight into what brings success in a chosen field. Speakers included Masterchef NZ winners Karina and Kasey Bird, Mountain Bike Rotorua owner Tak Mutu and Te Karere presenter Scotty Morrison.

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There was a Recognition Dinner to celebrate those who had achieved in their fields and on Saturday nine marae took to the stage to perform a range of compositions, including two original works. Around 1000 people were at Ohinemutu for the event.

The event was organised by Ngati Whakaue Assets Trust and has been "a couple of years" in the making. The goals, trust chairman Ana Morrison said, were inclusivity and whakanaunatanga (connection).

"Not everyone feels strongly connected to their marae but kapa haka is one way to get people back to the marae and in an open, inclusive, non-threatening way and in a way that's celebrating something positive," Ms Morrison said.

"Usually people only go for tangihanga [funerals]. For me personally it was wonderful to stand with my children and husband. It was rewarding to participate and feel what other people were feeling - I got a real sense of optimism among the tribe. That was really rewarding.

"It feels like Whakanuia could be a pivot; a real catalyst for more positive and great cohesion to happen."

Event co-ordinator Monty Morrison said the feedback was "overwhelming" and congratulated the trust on what they had achieved.