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February 26, 2013
Waka Huia winning bracket tribute to founders
Waatea Team
Posted On February 26, 2013
After months of training and rehearsal and four days of tough competition, Te Matatini champions Te Waka Huia are taking a well earned break this week.
Co-tutor Annette Wehi says there have been some celebrations, but the real mahi will come defending their fifth title as the country’s top kapa haka rōpū.
She says the best feature of the Rotorua bracket was the way the team were able to pay tribute to her parents, Te Waka Huia founders Nen and Bub Wehi.
“You know mum passed away just before the last Te Matatini and we were in mourning while we were performing. Now Dad has Parkinson’s disease so he’s not as full on as he used to be with us on the floor when we’re training. That performance was a tribute to both of them and the years that they have shared, not just in kapa haka but also just giving us life skills over 30 plus years in the world of haka,” she says.
Annette Wehi says Te Matatini is always worth the sacrifice, whether Te Waka Huia wins or not.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd
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