Group impresses in first showing
Blood, sweat and tears were shed leading up to Motai-tangata-rau’s first time qualifying at the Tainui Waka Kapa Haka competition, and it was all worth it to take out the win.
Nine years after the group was established, the first- time performers gained a first win at the Tainui Waka regional competition in Hamilton.
Among the group of 40 performers was talented Tokoroa man Tamehana Lagas, a debut performer who who joined the group last year.
‘‘Everybody is overwhelmed, but very humbled and we maintain our humility,’’ Lagas said. A quality that had been taught. Head tutor and manukura tane Paraone Gloyne is proud of the way the tribal group composed themselves.
‘‘I told them to be humbled if you don’t win anything, and be humbled if you do,’’ Gloyne said.
Despite nerves, Gloyne said the group stayed calm and had smiles on their faces when they heard of the win.
‘‘I’m sure they wanted to jump out of their chairs,’’ he said.
The passionate tutor remembered shedding a tear during the announcement.
‘‘I remembered all our nannies, uncles and aunties who were with the group before, but are not with us now,’’ he said.
Although hard work went into the performance on the day, Gloyne said efforts leading up to the competition were ‘‘taxing’’.
‘‘What you see on stage is 10 per cent, 90 per cent of what happens is before the performance.’’
‘‘Huge sacrifices are made by not only the performers, but our cooks, sewers, and supporters, it is truly a team effort,’’ he said.
As one of the top four, Motaitangata- rau are preparing for their first time at the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival in 2015 where they will compete against more than 35 groups.
Based at Rawhitiroa Marae in Owairaka valley, 80 per cent of the group is Ngati Raukawa and was founded in 2005.
Gloyne extends a welcome to anyone who wants to join.