Hero of Maori performing arts farewelled

Members of Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre lead Tama Huata to his final resting spot at Whenuakura Urupa, overlooking the Heretaunga Plains. Photo / Duncan Brown

With hongi and back-slapping hugs, warriors of the Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre steeled themselves for their final performance for their founder Tama Huata yesterday.

Kahurangi took part in more than 30 powhiri for delegations paying their respects, including Maori King Tuheitia Paki, during the three-day tangi for a man who steered Maori performing arts in Hawke's Bay.

Mr Huata received a New Zealand Order of Merit for his dedication to Maori performing arts in 2006.

He founded the Takitimu Performing Arts School, the first institution to provide a Maori Performing Arts degree, and organised Waitangi Day, Matariki and the Takitimu festivals.

He established the Waiata Maori Music Awards to celebrate Maori musicians and Kaumatua Kapa Haka.

Recently he organised the Takitimu Festival and it was his vision and drive that resulted in 18 pou in Hastings Civic Square, each representing an ancestor from the Heretaunga district's 18 marae.

Thousands attended the final stage of his tangi at Mihiroa Marae in Pakipaki yesterday.

Laughter preceded his departure from the marae when Rev Libya Heke-Huata speculated on individual Huata family members having a priesthood vocation. Mr Huata was the son of Canon Wi Te Tau Huata.

But laughter turned to tears as rain fell as he was carried on his final journey.

In full regalia, Kahurangi escorted him from the marae, performing a deafening haka for the man who cradled and grew a Maori performing arts renaissance.

Many groups and individuals performed their own haka before his burial at nearby Whenuakura Urupa overlooking the Heretaunga Plains.

His family said his vision was to present Maori performing arts in a "dynamic and contemporary manner", embodied in Kahurangi's wide performances.

It plays a key role in mainstream education, touring schools with an accompanying unit of education.

Te Wananga Whare Tapere O Takitimu academic director and Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre trustee, Lisa Paenga, said his departure would leave a "big hole" but his legacy remained.

"We have been going for 32 years and I'm sure his work will carry on through his children and their children," she said.

The waiata he wrote and dances he devised would continue to be performed, and performed well, she said.

"He was a perfectionist in the performing arts."

Nephew and marae co-chairman, Ken Jones, said he had a great sense of humour but was also a straight-talking man "so sometimes you didn't know if he was serious or having a laugh with you".

Mr Huata "oozed confidence" but was never arrogant. He was at the helm of Maori performing arts and Kahungunutanga, re-invigorating traditional iwi songs and stories.

"Half of the te reo Maori teachers that are in high schools in Hastings are students of his," he said.

"He was a prolific composer - 90 per cent of what Kahurangi performs was written by him,"

Mr Huata's sister Ngatai Huata said he worked hard at his work, which he loved, using the guiding principles of aroha, the importance of traditional ways, whanau and education.

Then, after the service had ended, the sunshine returned.