Tihi Puanaki considers returning to North

Gideon Porter Tihi Puanaki | Tihi Puanaki considers returning to North

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For forty years, Tihi Puanaki of Ngāti Hine has dedicated immense time and energy to developing kapa haka in Ōtautahi, Christchurch, where she currently resides. However, she now feels it may be time to return home to the North.

Puanaki says her son, well-known musician Te Huaki, who currently tutors her kapa haka group, Te Kotahitanga, is also eager to deepen his connection to his Ngāti Hine roots.

“With his focus on iwi, it was really time that – ahau – but also the boy, he’s saying he needs to do something specific, with his own people,” says Puanaki.

Tihi Puanaki says with four kapa haka groups from Te Waipounamu heading to next year’s Matatini nationals—including the first-ever team from Murihiku in the deep south— she feels proud of her contributions to kapa haka in the South Island.

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