February 25, 2019
Reo love takes Ngā Tūmanako to top
A leader of this year's Te Matatini winning team says Ngā Tūmanako commitment to te reo Māori made the difference.
The west Auckland roopu that sprung 13 years ago from Te Kura Kaupapa o Hoani Waititi based its bracket around the theme of language revitalisation.
Reikura Kahi says as the first generation to come through kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa the members represent a changing tide within Māoridom.
"It's not about being the loudest voice on stage but being the Māori voice on stage. We are graduates of kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa, wharekura, and we are proud of that and more so proud our reo finally matters," she says.
Reikura Kahi says Ngā Tūmanako is honoured to be the first winners of the trophy now it has been renamed to acknowledge not only former Māori affairs minister Duncan McIntyre but also Waka Huia founders the late Bub and Nan Wehi, who did so much to support their roopu when they started.
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