Te Matatini 2025 wrapped up an incredible five days of kapa haka on Saturday with the first-ever People’s Choice Award.
The ‘Aku Mahi’ Kōhine Pōnika Memorial Trophy was awarded through fan voting via the Te Matatini app.
And the winners were… drum roll, please… Te Kuru Marutea (Te Tauihu o Te Waka a Māui).
The award is fittingly named in tribute to the waiata by the legendary composer, and what better group to receive it than these wāhine and their rōpū, who delivered an incredible performance of an original composition by Latoya Leef-Graham, Charlton Te Wake-Matthews, and Margaret Ngaropo Hati from Panguru.
They composed the ataahua waiata and gifted it to the rōpū to perform as their waiata tira.
Te Kuru Marutea received over 4,000 votes for their waiata tira - not too shabby for their first stand at Te Matatini!
“Here they are, winners Naia Awatea, Bailee Tava, Te Kuru Marutea, and their Waiata Tira,” the Te Matatini Society wrote on Instagram, alongside a clip of the rōpū performing backstage.
Based on the reaction online, it’s easy to see why the rōpū earned the first-ever People’s Choice Award.
“PEOPLE’S CHOICE FOR A REASON!!! ATAAHUA 😭💯,” one commenter wrote on Instagram.
Another added, “Well-deserved award 🥹👏🏽 absolute effortless Waiata! ❤️."
“I am not a Maori, but these people are all overflowing emotions when presenting; they don’t miss a spot in me,” another said. “I don’t speak nor understand the language. Just by listening, even with my eyes shut, it gets me filled up. This masterpiece is on replay.”
Others, including the talented young Latiyah, have already shared covers of the waiata after listening to it on repeat.
And if you’re anything like me, learning the lyrics has become a must.
Right, we’re off to watch this on TikTok and let the waiata live rent-free in our heads - at least until we get the Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga Spotify album!
