Te Taiurungi Dr Jim Mather was pleased with the efforts of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa kaimahi and tauira at Te Kahu o Te Amorangi Te Matatini 2017.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was a strategic partner and sponsor of the four-day festival hosted by Ngāti Kahungunu in Heretaunga.

“I was extremely happy with all of the work of our kaimahi both those that were performing and the way they upheld the mana of each of their kapa but also very impressed by those kaimahi that came to provide support towards this important kaupapa of te ao Māori,”

Dr Mather also presented a new award at the prize giving ceremony for Titonga Hōu waiata-a-ringa (best original composition for action song) to Tauira Mai Tawhiti which honours Te Arawa leader Mauriora Kingi.