Motions — Māori Performing Arts and Kapa Haka—Te Matatini 2013 Festival

I seek leave of the House to move a non-debatable, non-controversial motion congratulating all of the performers and those associated with the 23rd Te Matatini festival held in Rotorua from 20 to 24 February 2013.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that course of action. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.

Tēnā koe. Tēnā tātau katoa e te Whare. Ka mōtini au, Kia mihi te whare ki ngā tāngata katoa o ngā kapa haka, me aua hunga hoki i mahi i te taiopenga o Te Matatini i tūki Rotorua, atu i tū 20 ki te 24 o Hui-tanguru 2013. I ngā rā tata kua hipa ake ekengia a Te Arawa e te motu, ki roto i a au o Te Arawa i roto o Rotorua ki te whakanui i te āhuatanga o ngā mahi o ngā mātua, o ngā tūpuna. Ko Te Matatini tērā. Tīmata mai ai i roto i te āhuatanga o te pōhiri a Te Arawa ki te motu i te Wenerei, ā, haere tonu atu mai i te Tāite ki te Rātapu. Ka kite mai ai te ihi, te wana, te wehi, te whakamataku o te motu i a rātou e tū ana i te papa-tū-waewae. Ko tāku noa ake he mihi ki te hunga nā rātou te mahi nui ki te whakatikatika i ngā mea katoa ka tahi.

Ka rua, ki te hunga i tū ki te atāmira, i whakapau kaha, whakapau werawera kia eke ki te taumata ka mutu, ko ō rātou whānau e noho nei ki te tiaki i ngā tamariki, te whāngai i a rātou i runga i ngā marae, ko tērā, tērā ka mutu, ki te hunga i mahi nei mō te kore moni, me kī, ngā ringa raupā o te wā kāinga. Ko rātou tērā i tiaki nei i te motu i tā rātou ekenga ki runga i tōku waka o Te Arawa.

Ka mutu, ko tōku kupu whakamutunga he mihi ki Te Waka Hūia i eke anō rā ki tērā taumata o te tiketiketanga o tēnei mea o te kapa haka, ka mutu, nō rātau te kaha, nō rātau te mōhio ki tēnei mea o te kapa haka, me mihi rā ki a rātau.

Nō reira, ko tāku ko te kī atu, Te Matatini, me mihi rā ki a koutou ka tika. I eke te kaupapa ki tōna taumata. Ā ngā 2 tau kai mua i te aroaro, ka eke ki runga o Waitaha, mā Waitaha anō rā te motu e manaaki, e tiaki. Ko te wāhi ki a au he tuku mihi ki te hunga i tae ake ki Te Matatini, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora tātau katoa.

[Greetings to you and to us all in the House. I move, That the House congratulate all the performers and those associated with the 23rd Te Matatini festival held in Rotorua from 20 to 24 March 2013. In days just past Te Arawa, I of Te Arawa, Rotorua, was overwhelmed by the nation to celebrate the deeds of the elders and ancestors. That was Te Matatini. It began with Te Arawa’s mass welcome of the nation on Wednesday with Te Matatini proper going on into Thursday and then to Sunday. Seeing the nation performing on the stage was just powerful, thrilling, awesome, and scary. I merely want to acknowledge those who played an important role in preparing everything, so that is one.

Secondly, those performers on stage who expended energy, who perspired to reach the top and finally, their families, whose job it was to remain behind the scenes to care for the children, feed those on the courtyards. That is that side. Then, there were the volunteers who worked for nothing. Let us say the blistered hands working at the back. They, indeed, were the ones who looked after the nation that came aboard my Te Arawa canoe.

My final word, then, is to acknowledge Te Waka Hūia, which has reached that pinnacle once more to become the top kapa haka team. At the end of it all, it was their effort and knowledge about this thing called kapa haka that prompts me to say that we need to doff our hats to them.

All that is left for me to do now, therefore, is to say, Te Matatini, I acknowledge you collectively. The event achieved what it set out to do. In 2 years from now, the nation will descend upon Waitaha, where it will, indeed, host, care, and look after the country. To all those who turned up at Te Matatini, I acknowledge and compliment you and us all collectively.]

💬 Hone Harawira: Mr Speaker—

This is a non-debatable motion. Leave was so given.

I seek leave to speak to the motion.

Leave is sought now for Hone Harawira to speak to the motion that has just been put. Is there any objection to that course of action? There is objection.

Motion agreed to.