Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wāhiao are the last of the large Te Arawa contingent to perform on the national stage for Te Matatini 2015.
They are a group that has been around for over 100 years, performing and entertaining dignitaries, tourists, and iwi alike, with a proud legacy that they have long nurtured from their tūrangawaewae at Te Whakarewarewa.
Renowned for their sweet voices, Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wāhiao's performance today acknowledged their elders, and the history of how they came about.
Jaylene says, "We've now been in the team for about 22 years. We both had our first performance with the group in Hāwera, Taranaki. We were 14 years old back then."
Leader and tutor Laurelle Tamati told Te Kāea, "We'll continue to strive and nurture our singing and all that comes with it. I hope that Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wāhiao continues to be a strong competitive group."
"We will continue to maintain the gifts we inherited from our elders and ancestors for the sake of my family, hapū and iwi," concludes Laurelle.
Their tutor is Patrick Tamati (Chair), and their leaders today are Koro Tini and Laurelle Tamati.