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February 21, 2013
Te Matatini a celebration of hapū and iwi
Waatea Team
Posted On February 21, 2013
A member of Waihirere says John Tamihere is missing the point in criticising Te Matatini for failing to come up with hits.
The politician turned broadcaster says the biennial Māori performing arts competition has become rigid and elitist, and over the past decade has failed to generate songs that resonate across Maoridom.
Willie Te Aho says Mr Tamihere should get on the stage, so he gets a better insight into what is happening.
“Today’s compositions are more focused on a particular rohe or a particular iwi. Of course they're not going to do the rounds of the more general songs like ‘Poi E’ or ‘E Ipo’. It talks about a generic theme that does the rounds. He has a point but for me the point about Te Matatini, is to get up and show your pride and your whānau, iwi, waka, rohe”. Willie Te Aho says.
Te Matatini continues today at the Rotorua International Stadium, with a lot of attention likely to be on the last section, when heavyweights Te Waka Huia, Whangara Mai Tawhiti and Te Hokowhitu ā Tu take to the stage.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd
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