March 27, 2024
Ihaia Ropata | Kia kaha rā e te rohe o Te Ūpoko o Te Ika ki ngā mahi kapa haka
Mā te kapa haka e whakamiramira ana i ngā take o te wā, i te tuakiri o tō iwi anō hoki.
Koia ngā kōrero a te manukura o te rōpū kapa haka hōu ō Ngāti Toa rangatira a Ihai Ropata.
I tū a Te Kairangi o Poutama ki tōnā whakataetae tuatahi ki te rohe o Te Whanganui a Tara, nā ko tā Ropata he tautoko i te katoa o Ngāi Māori ki te rohe kia hāpai i ngā āhuatanga kapa haka rongo whānuitia i āna pāinga.
Ko tā Ropata anō, ‘ko tāku pea he akiaki i te hunga e noho ana ki konei nā, kia tahuri mai ki ēnei mahi, tēnei anō tētahi ara hei whakakanohi i tō iwi, hei whakakanohi i tō, waihoki hei whakatairanga i te reo Māori ki konei. Ko tāku pea, kei te kōrero au mō Ngāti Toa, he tono nōku ki ōku whanaunga o Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai otirā ki a Ngāti Raukawa Te Au ki te Tonga kia whakapiri mai, kia hangaia he kapa hōu ā iwi.’