Piki's helping hand ensures a swift Matatini

Piki Thomas ready for action at Te Matatini at the weekend. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

There were few people at Te Matatini 2017 who had a view as good as Rotorua's Piki Thomas.

Mr Thomas, who is more commonly known as the national Maori adviser for the New Zealand Fire Service, volunteered over the four-day festival in Hastings as a stage manager.

The role meant Mr Thomas was in charge of getting 47 kapa haka teams on and off the stage on time and as effortlessly as possible.

He started in the role at the Waiohika festival in 2011 after being offered "a close view of performances".

It turned out that close view was side-stage as an assistant to stage manager Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell, now the Maori Development Minister.

Mr Thomas has set the stage for Te Matatini ever since.

"Being involved in Te Matatini is a tremendous honour and I'm supported by a great team including a principal of a kura kaupapa Maori, a judge, a chief executive, former kapa haka performers and students," he said.

Mr Thomas was one of about 350 volunteers who helped host tribe Ngati Kahungunu run the festival.

Meanwhile, Mr Flavell has paid public tribute to the kapa haka groups Ruatoki and Te Whanau a Apanui who performed waiata as part of their 30-minute performance about him and the Maori Party.

"Kei aku rangatira tena koutou katoa. Usually people like me get a serve so to have a waiata about what you try to do for our people is pretty special and not lost on me," Mr Flavell said on his Facebook page.