Kōtuku Tibble MCs 2013 Kāwhia Kai Festival

Media Release 18 December, 2012

Kōtuku Tibble MCs 2013 Kāwhia Kai Festival

TV presenter Kōtuku Tibble is returning to his beginnings as a teacher and student of Te Reo Māori when he takes on the role of entertainment MC for the 2013 Kāwhia Kai Festival on Saturday, February 2.

Back in 1989 and fresh out of Waikato University with a Bachelor of Education as a bi-lingual teacher, Tibble first taught at Te Kura ō Roto Ngāhere or Forest Lake Primary School which was one of the first bi-lingual and full-emersion Te Reo schools in the country.

Of Tainui, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Porou descent, this school role took Kōtuku on numerous visits to Marae noho at Maketū marae in Kāwhia where he “learnt the value of the language and the multi-dimensional levels of whakapapa” in Māori society.

“Since then, I have always had a love for Kāwhia as I discovered a lot about my whakapapa there – as well as the unique regional dialect,” says Kōtuku who is the voice of Māori TV’s NBA games and commentated on Rugby World Cup games last year in Te Reo.

“I also love the kai moana that Kāwhia is famous for so I am looking forward to trying all the old style Māori kai!”

Kōtuku will introduce a full-day of entertainment at the Festival which is being held at Ōmiti Park reserve on the shores of Kāwhia Harbour on the West Coast of New Zealand’s North Island to celebrate Waitangi Day for all New Zealanders.

“The Kai Festival is a wonderful way to celebrate the Treaty of Waitangi, which as a document sets the foundation for a bilingual, bicultural country,” says Kōtuku.

The one-day Festival has some 25 stalls of contemporary and traditional kai, was as displays of traditional arts & crafts including demonstrations of rāranga (traditional flax weaving), and tā-moko (traditional tattooing).
On the entertainment stage will be kapahaka demonstrations as well as performances from local and international rock and reggae groups.

Four local marae collectively put down a mega-hāngi to cater for the approximately 7,000 visitors who come to sample kai and culture at the Festival. While hāngi is a favourite that always sells out – there is also a wide range of other kai to sample such as 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).

With a focus on celebrating Māori culture, the Festival’s venue is designed along the lines of a traditional Māori village. Visitors enter through a carved waharoa (gateway) – and the whole site is surrounded by fences made from manuka.
Attracting New Zealanders of all ages and backgrounds, the cultural festival runs from 9am to 5pm, with a gate entry of $10 for adults, and $2 those 12 years and under. Visit www.kawhiakaifestival.co.nz for more information.
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