Skip Content

Ka tōia mai e Kahurangi Maxwell ōna pūkenga kaipānui, mai i te papa taumāhekeheke o Te Matatini 2015, ki te papa tauwhāinga o Te Mata Wānanga.

Kahurangi Maxwell will bring experience from her television presenter duties at Te Matatini 2015 to front the Mata Wānanga live-stream.

Ka whakapāohotia tuatahitia te Mata                           Wānanga i tēnei tau kia kitea ai e ngā                             kaimahi e kore e tae ā-tinana atu                                          ki Tauranga i te marama o Mahuru.               

Nō Rotorua a Kahurangi Maxwell,                                     kua tohua hei kanohi mō Te Mata Wānanga.                     Nāna Te Matatini i whakakanohi ki runga i a                       Whakaata Māori ki O-Tautahi i te                               tīmatatanga o te tau.

Ko Te Matatini tōna tuatahitanga hei                           kaipānui, hei kanohi pāpāho, heoi, kua roa                           e tino whai wāhi ana ngā mahi haka                                     ki a ia, te mātanga kaihaka.                                                         

Tekau mā whā ngā tau o Kahurangi i tana tū                     tuatahi ki Te Matatini hei kaihaka mō Ngāti           Rangiwewehi i  te tau 2002.

I ngā kaupapa Matatini tata nei kua haka me                   Ngā Uri o Te Whanoa.                                                                  

Ko Kahurangi, te Pou Whakatairanga Matua                      mō ngā take Toi me te Mātauranga Māori ki                        Te Puna Mātauranga me Turipuku, Rotorua,                          e kōrero ana mō te, “paku āmaimai” e pihi                          ake ana i roto i a ia, he mea nui whakakanohi                        i Te Mata Wānanga.

“E tino hiahia ana kia kounga aku mahi                                pāho i tēnei kaupapa,” hei tāna.                                                 

“Ki a au nei, e whakamīharo ana i taku                                 whai wāhitanga atu ki tēnei kaupapa                           whakanui i te wānanga, whakatairanga                             hoki i te whakawhanaungatanga o                                       ngā kaimahi.”

Ko āna kupu akiaki ki ngā kaihaka,                                      “kia hūrō te haere.”                                                                    

Ka mahi ngātahi a Kahurangi rāua ko                             Mataia Keepa, he mātātoa haka,                                         he kaiako hoki i Te Arataki Manu Kōrero                           kōeke 4 ki Tamaki Makaurau.                                                   

E pau haere ana te wā, kua 65 rā noa iho                          ngā rā e toe ana, kia tae                                                          ki Te Mata Wānanga.

I tū Te Mata Wānanga tuatahi                                               ki Papaīoea i te tau 2005.

I whakatūria tēnei kaupapa hei whakakotahi                           i ngā kaimahi i te wā i riro mā te Karauna                            te wānanga e whakahaere,                                                  koia ko Te Anga Whakamua. 

Ka tīmata ki te pōwhiri ki te Marae o                         Maungatapu ki Tauranga hei te                                         Rātū te 29 o Mahuru.

Ko te rā whakataetae ko te Rāapa                                        te 30 o Mahuru ki te Whare Tapere                                     ASB TECT, Maunganui.

Te Mata Wānanga will be live-streamed for the first time this year for kaimahi unable to make the kapa haka celebrations at Tauranga in September.

Fronting the Mata Wānanga broadcast is Kahurangi Maxwell from Rotorua who presented Te Matatini live for Māori Television from O-Tautahi earlier this year.

Te Matatini was her debut role as a television presenter but kapa haka has always played an important part in the life of the veteran national competition performer.

Kahurangi was 14 when she performed for the first time on the national stage for Ngāti Rangiwewehi in 2002.

She has performed with Ngā Uri o Te Whanoa in more recent Te Matatini festivals.

Kahurangi, the new Mātauranga Māori and Toi Senior Marketing Specialist based at Te Puna Mātauranga and the Turipuku site in Rotorua is “a little nervous” to be a part of Te Mata Wananga in a presenting capacity.

“I certainly want to ensure I bring value to the live-streaming of the event,” she says.

“I see this as a wonderful opportunity to participate in a kaupapa that celebrates the wānanga as it promotes whakawhanaungatanga within the organisation.” 

Her advice for aspiring Te Mata Wānanga performers is to “enjoy the journey”. 

Kahurangi will share her presenting duties with  Mataia Keepa another national kapa haka veteran performer and the tutor of Te Arataki Manu Kōrero level 4 in Tāmaki Makaurau.

The countdown is on with only 65 days left until the biennial Te Mata Wānanga competition starts. 

The inaugural Te Mata Wānanga was held at Papaīoea in 2005.

It was established as a means to unite the organisation as it faced Te Anga Whakamua that saw the Crown take over the management of the organisation.

It begins with a pōwhiri at Maungatapu Marae in Tauranga on Tuesday September 29.

Competition day is Wednesday September 30 at the ASB TECT Arena, Mt Maunganui.

 

 Back to news & events

Published On: 27 July 2015

Article By:



Other Articles

  • 29 October 2025

    Raranga weaves culture and people together

    Yumi’s muka kākahu beautifully blends Māori and Japanese culture through raranga. Discover her inspiring journey with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, from Kāwai Raupapa to Maunga Kura Toi, and how weaving has connected her to people, tikanga, and identity.

  • 29 October 2025

    Toi tauira to kaiako series – Desiree Moat-Rangikataua

    Heretaunga toi kaiako Desiree Moat-Rangikataua shares her inspiring journey from tauira to kaiako at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Discover how raranga, te reo Māori, and a reconnection to culture shaped her path and why she encourages others to embrace growth and teaching.

  • 22 October 2025

    From the bush to a PhD - Fabian's journey of faith, family, and learning

    Fabian C Mika’s journey from the ngahere of Rūātoki to earning a PhD is a powerful story of faith, whānau, and mātauranga Māori. Discover how his passion for Ringatū, te reo Māori, and education led to academic success and a legacy of learning for future generations.

  • 20 October 2025

    Mahi toi exhibitions 2025

    From raranga to whakairo, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa toi tauira are showcasing their mahi toi in free exhibitions across Aotearoa from September to November 2025. Discover stunning works of Māori art and creativity, and celebrate the journey of tauira from certificate to degree level.