Tū Mai Tama Manawanui Tama Manawaora! Small but mighty - hosts Ngāti Tama take out the Taranaki Tū Mai title

Ngāti Tama, the smallest iwi in Taranaki, hosted the 2023 Taranaki Tū Mai with pride and manaakitanga –and also celebrated a sweet victory.

“They met the challenge and did a great job of hosting the event,” says Wharehoka Wano, Taranaki Tū Mai Trust Tiamana (Chair) and Tumu Whakarito (CEO) of Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust.

He says the northern-most iwi in Taranaki showed fine manaakitanga.

“They collated more points than everybody else in terms of participation and winning some of the competitive events, but the thing I measure that (success) on is the pride Ngāti Tama displayed wearing their uniforms and logo… that was infectious and their positive energy filled the wairua cup,” says Wharehoka.

“What really excited me for 2023 was that it was the eighth presentation of Tū Mai, so that means all the eight iwi have now hosted the event.”

The previous Taranaki Tū Mai was hosted by Ngāti Ruanui in 2022, after it was put off for a year in 2021 because of the pandemic.

The celebration of culture, sport and manaakitanga is meant to run every second year, but to keep the dates in-sync going forward, Ngāti Tama hosted the event last November.

“All festivals follow the same format and kaupapa – it’s all around whanaungatanga, kotahitanga, unity and Taranakitanga; celebrating our identity,” says Wharehoka.

The number of participants continues to rise each year, and for the Ngāti Tama event more than 3,000 attendees registered.

Raymond Tuuta, who was on the Ngāti Tama organising committee, says even though the iwi had the smallest rohe, they were confident about their ability to host and organise the uplifting celebration.

Which, they did, beginning with a spectacular pōwhiri at Pukearuhe Marae.

Afterwards, the competitions and kapa haka were held at sports grounds and facilities in Waitara.

Even though the iwi had less than a year to prepare for the event (because of the realignment of Taranaki Tū Mai dates), committee members were unfazed and swung into action.

“What the Ngāti Tama iwi have achieved is pretty remarkable given our starting position,” says Raymond of the organising committee, which included Patricia (Lungi) O’Carroll-Leota, Rangimokai Knuckey, Sally Wooller and Ashlee Fenech.

“Taranaki Tū Mai has always been a kaupapa that I have regarded as one of the best gatherings that we could ever do as Ngā Iwi o Taranaki, because it’s a space where we can come together and actually be whānau and strengthen our whakapapa connections.”

Te Rau Manawaora / PKW Trust Te Rau Toi Tauira - Chair Liana Poutu says the organisation is a long-time supporter of the biennial event, giving financial help through its community grants programme.

“Taranaki Tū Mai is a celebration of our Taranakitanga, of us being connected to the eight iwi of Taranaki. It’s the one kaupapa that brings the iwi together in a way that’s an outlet for our competitive streak, but it’s also a great way to hang out with our whānau.”

Because the Taranaki Tū Mai is hosted by a different iwi each time, the event moves around the maunga.

“Many of us whakapapa to a number of iwi but for Taranaki Tū Mai you have to choose one and so loyalty and allegiances are tested,” she laughs.

“It’s a beautiful celebration of us – there’s sports, debating, kapa haka, there’s kaumātua sports, there’s tamariki games... It’s just a beautiful way for the eight iwi to come together.”

The next Taranaki Tū Mai will be held in 2025 and will be hosted by Taranaki Iwi.