Rotoiti debutantes wow Matatini crowd

DEBUT: Te Pikikotuku o Rongomai perform today. PHOTO/TE MATATINI SOCIETY INCORPORATED

Rotoiti-based Te Pikikotuku o Rongomai wowed the crowd with their debut performance at the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival in Christchurch today.

Sixth on in the first pool amongst returning champions Te Waka Huia from Auckland and other giants of the arts, Te Pikikotuku showed their flair with the use of weaponry. The women using white patu clubs and men armed with taiaha throughout the length of their 25 min bracket.

First time female leader and tutor Renata Curtis said she was extremely proud of their young group.

DEBUT: Te Pikikotuku o Rongomai perform today. PHOTO/TE MATATINI SOCIETY INCORPORATED

"To be honest our team was really relaxed. They've taken on our direction and advice and really centered themselves today."

Te Pikikotuku qualified for this year's Te Matatini festival by placing sixth at last year's Te Arawa regional competition.

Their mission statement and most of their items were dedicated to their tribe, Ngati Rongomai.

"Because we are 'waewae tapu' (debutants), the aim was just to say on the Te Matatini stage who we are, so everyone knows and perhaps from here we can branch out to different topics."

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Curtis said 90 per cent of the group was new to the national stage, but hopes this will be the first experience of many.

"I'm really proud of them. You can't teach them experience. You just have to try and give it to them and encourage them to keep going."

Damian Hawe, 40, last performed for Te Akaaka Ngararanui at the nationals in Wellington in 1998. He said whether or not the performance was enough to get them through to the final, the main thing is they felt good.

"It doesn't really matter, it was good out there. We left it all out on the stage. Some people say it's like riding a bike. Well, this bike's still a bit old and rusty."

Nga Uri o Te Whanoa, Kataore and Te Matarae-I-Orehu all perform tomorrow with Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao caping off the Te Arawa groups on Saturday afternoon.

The top three from every pool that will compete in the final on Sunday will be announced on Saturday night.