Nga Korero mo
Te Ahuareka
Te Āhuareka o Ngāti Hine Festival debuted in 2008 and has been used as a vehicle to showcase, celebrate and preserve te reo and tikanga of Ngāti Hine. The last festival was held in 2019.
Over the years, it has attracted hundreds of attendees with its lively, thought-provoking tautohetohe debates, kapa haka, kai, stage entertainment, mahi tuna, tamariki activities and art exhibitions.
Te Ahuareka was the name of Te Ruki Kawiti’s whare rūnanga at Waiōmio which is said to have been built in the 1820s.
‘Ahuareka’ means ‘pleasant, agreeable, entertaining, pleasing,’ words which aptly capture the essence of the festival and hence why it got that name.
This year, Te Ahuareka is being held at Otiria Marae from Friday 28 March to Sunday 30 March 2025.
History of Te Āhuareka o Ngati Hine
Te Āhuareka was the name of Te Ruki Kawiti’s whare rūnanga at Waiōmio which is said to have been built in the 1820s. ‘Āhuareka’ means ‘pleasant, agreeable, entertaining, pleasing,’ words which aptly capture the essence of the festival and hence why it got that name.
The committee felt that it was important that key historical names were brought back to life amongst our tamariki and mokopuna.
Te Āhuareka would have been where Kawiti had met with his people and received his many manuhiri. It was here that he would have also met with the likes of Hone Heke in early 1845, who arrived with a greenstone mere smeared with excrement - a sign that he wanted to go to war against the British.
The conclusion of that hui is now history, as Ngāti Hine joined and eventually led the battles against the British and their Māori allies culminating in the battle of Te Ruapekapeka in January, 1846.
Ngā Whainga o Te Āhuareka o Ngati Hine
Our aims and objectives
Te Ahuareka o Ngati Hine is our festival where we come together and celebrate our heritage - what makes us Ngati Hine.
Our four key goals for the 2025 festival are:
1) To uphold and uplift our Ngati Hine language, culture and history.
Hei whakamana i te tū ō Ngati Hine, te reo, ngā tikanga me ōna hītori.
2) To underline topics of wellbeing that lead to improved quality of life.
Hei whakanui i ngā kaupapa whai oranga.
3) To celebrate achievement, skills and training development, leadership and success. Hei whakanui i ngā tohu me ērā atu mahi kua whakatutukitia
4) To work together and have fun!
Kia ngāhau te noho me te mahi tahi.
Te Ahuareka Organising Committee 2025
The festival was held in 2019 and revived in 2023 after Covid-19. The Te Ahuareka o Ngati Hine Organising committee have worked hard to bring the festival to fruition. The committee comprises the following members, in addition to many other volunteers.
Chair: Tapeka Henare
Treasurer: Leanne Tamou
Secretary: Nisha Marsh
Event Management: Huhana Lyndon & Huru Tipene
Day 1 Programme: Huru Tipene
Day 2 Programme: Huhana Lyndon
Day 3 Programme: Hineamaru Ropati
Booklet: Te Uranga Winiata and Kristina Te Whata
Tamariki Activities: Manuwai Wells and Whānau
Stalls: Hohipere Williams
Site Management: Hohipere Williams and Joey Rapana
Hireage: Shane Paraone
Communications: Erana Fenton
Merchandise: Suzie Scott and Nisha Marsh
Kaumātua: Kataraina Wihongi
Wātene Māori & Security: Rowena Tana
Funding & Sponsorship: Pita Tipene, Sara Tara and Cheyenne Heke
The committee acknowledges the support of Te Reo o Ngāti Hine Charitable Trust.
The Trust was reconstituted in 2011 to provide an umbrella and support for activities that promote Te Reo me ngā tikanga o Ngāti Hine – known as ‘Te Tū o Ngāti Hine’. Te Reo o Ngāti Hine Trust receives the funding acquired by the Te Ahuareka o Ngāti Hine committee and provides the accountability back to the funders and sponsors.
The Trust was established by Pepi Walker and her colleagues who saw that our Ngāti Hine Reo was at risk. This became the beginning of the Ngāti Hine Reo Strategy. The Trust is chaired by Tukaha Milne.
For Te Tautohetohe event, our whānau provide an opportunity for us all to celebrate and listen to examples of our unique mita or dialect within and from Ngāti Hine.
Kaupapa or topics centre around significant and current issues, to provoke inquiry, laughter and the richness of our sacred reo.
Here are some of the rules!
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The debate must be conducted in te reo
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3 members per team (including captains)
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At least one wahine in each team
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At least one young person (under 45)
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The debate will employ typical debating rules, each team having an opportunity to speak to the topics provided.
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The winning group will receive an award to acknowledge their skill, wit and ability to confidently convey their arguments.
JUDGES: Moe Milne, Tihi Puanaki, Pita Tipene, Tapeka Henare