Tū mai rā Taranaki e, tiketike mai rā tātou! - Māori pride always the winner at Taranaki tū mai

After a year of Covid-caused delays, Taranaki Tū Mai is back, and organisers say the upcoming Ngāti Ruanuihosted festival is a much-needed celebration.

Taking place between 4-6 November later this year, the biennial event will be based at the TSB Hub in Te Hāwera.

“Taranaki Tū Mai gives us the chance to meet, join and come together in a very Taranaki Māori-centric way,” says Wharehoka Wano, Taranaki Tū Mai Trust Tiamana (Chair) and Tumu Whakarito (CEO) of Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust.

He says the event brings the eight iwi of Taranaki together to celebrate Taranakitanga, Whanaungatanga and Kotahitanga.

“I have been immensely proud of this festival in that it’s brought us together under those three values,” says Wharehoka (Taranaki, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Awa).

Chair since the event began in 2009, Wharehoka says Taranaki Tū Mai is hosted by a different iwi each time, and the celebration continues to grow.

“It’s now firmly on the iwi calendar as an event when we can celebrate who we are,” he says. “One of the measures of that for me is that many of our tribal whānau who live away from the maunga return for this event.”

The intergenerational gathering is celebratory, warm and has a great atmosphere underpinned by friendly rivalry. Points are added up across all the events to find an overall winner and Ngāti Mutunga are the current champions.

“They get the bragging rights for two years (three this time) – in our world that’s a long, long time,” he laughs.

Wharehoka will be competing in the golf, tautohetohe (debates) and kapa haka.

Te Rau Manawaora o Parininihi ki Waitōtara (PKW Trust) is supporting the celebrations, which feature a wide range of sports, performances, and wānanga.

Puna Wano-Bryant, PKW Te Rautitikura/General Manager – Shareholder Engagement, is wearing two hats for Taranaki Tū Mai. As well as her PKW role, she and Te Rauwhakaihoiho/ Kaitiakitanga Strategy Manager Tonga Karena are the kapa haka teachers for Taranaki Iwi.

“So the PKW office space can become the Taranaki Iwi kapa haka practice space at times,” she says.

Puna (Taranaki, Te Atiawa and Ngāti Mutunga) says the past three years of the Covid pandemic have severely affected Māori in their ability to communally gather to share grief and celebrations.

“What we have had to put off and postpone again and again is the biggest celebration in Taranaki of our tribal identities and collective identity as a people. It’s so important that we come together once more,” she says.

“It’s about sharing in our own pride as tribes and sharing with other tribes. It’s about us being us… it’s like the ultimate sign of self-care and self-love as a tribal people. That’s Taranaki Tū Mai.”

PKW will have a stand at The Hub and Adrian Poa, the PKW Te Rau Tātai Kura – Shareholder Engagement Advisor – will be on hand to assist Te Rautitikura / shareholders with updates and information about their connections to PKW, dividends and grants.