Master carver creates contemporary waharoa

Media information
3 February, 2011

Master carver creates contemporary waharoa (gateway) for 2011 Kāwhia Kai Festival

A traditional waharoa (gateway) designed by master carver Pakewa Wātene will be erected as the entrance to this year’s Kāwhia Kai Festival on Saturday, February 5.

The waharoa will depict the story of the arrival in waka (canoe) by the Tainui tribe to Kāwhia over a thousand years ago, says Festival organiser, Hinga Whiu.

“We commissioned the design which will be a mixture of contemporary and traditional motifs because Kāwhia is where the Tainui waka arrived,” explains Hinga.

The waka arrived in approximately AD1350 and was then buried behind nearby Maketū marae.

The waharoa is part of the traditional village décor being created at the Festival site this year. Cut Manuka trunks will also line the perimeter of the site, and traditional pou (poles) depicting Tainui and early European ancestors are also dotted around the reserve.

As head carving tutor at Te Awamutu’s Wānaga O Aotearoa’s Apakura campus, Pakewa Wātene has demonstrated whakairo rākau (traditional wood carving) at previous Kai Festivals.

As a big reunion event for Tainui iwi, the Festival will have around 20 stalls demonstrating rāranga (traditional flax weaving), and tā-moko (traditional tattooing). And of course, there will also be more than 25 stalls with plenty of traditional and contemporary Māori kai to sample including Toroi (marinated mussels and pūhā), Creamed Pāua and Kina, Īnanga (Whitebait patties), Kānga Wai/Pirau (fermented corn), Pūhā and pork spring rolls, Pāwhara (smoked fish and eel) as well as the local Waikato delicacy - Kōkī (shark liver pate).

Hāngi is the always the big favourite with four local marae putting down the largest collective hāngi in the country to feed the 10,000 expected visitors. The largest single hangi will be put down at Mokoroa marae to feed 1,000 people alone.

“It’s a huge hāngi requiring a massive fire pit and baskets upon baskets of meat and vegetables to be prepared,” says Hinga.

“Whānau from all the marae are also flat out weaving the flax kono (baskets) that the hāngi is served up in.”

Being Auahi-kore (smoke free) and alcohol free, the Festival is also a whānau (family) day with a strong health message explains Hinga, herself a health worker for Raukura Hauora O Tainui.

Visitors to the Festival will also be able to enjoy a full day of entertainment introduced by Te Arawa FM radio presenter Kingi Biddle. All coming from the Waikato region, the lineup includes six-piece band NRG Rising, Zionhill, Tasty Brown, Stingray, soloist Tania Smith, rappers Statik West and hip hop artists Shine Forum.

There will also be more than two hours of kapahaka performed by three Waikato regional kapahaka groups - Ngāti Māhanga Whānui from Whatawhata, Ngā Mauri Taniwha from Aramiro, and a young kapahaka group from Te Awamutu Intermediate School.

Held on Ōmiti Reserve by the shores of the tranquil Kāwhia Harbour on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, the Festival is a unique celebration of Māori cuisine and is rated by The Lonely Planet Travel Guide as one of the top ten must see Māori experiences for visitors to visit.

Attracting New Zealanders of all ages and backgrounds, the Festival opens with a mihi whakatau welcome and blessing at 9am. Gate entry is $5, with children under 5 free, while a family pass for two adults and up to four children will cost $15.

ENDS

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