Te Matatini has not left our minds for the last two weeks as we’ve seen all the amazing rōpū perform, with a tonne of tautoko behind them.
Today is no different as a clip of one rōpū is going viral for their incredibly enthusiastic reaction to finding out they made it into the final day of the competition.
The clip, posted by @Maoriworldwide on Instagram, shows Angitū o Tāmaki Makaurau all gathering around for the announcement that they have made it into the top 12.
The anticipation grew as the rōpū were one of the last groups announced - I was sitting at the edge of my seat!
As the rōpū were confirmed to be in the final, the room erupted with cheers of excitement that won’t fail to bring a massive smile to your face.
Commenters on the post were all in awe of the group’s performance that followed.
“Angitū made the top twelve and changed the narrative and challenged the outlook forever with the full inclusion of our whanau who stood in places they never felt fit right. MANA!! ” one comment reads.
“ENERGY 🌀🤍,” another said.
A third wrote: “What a beautiful moment captured on film. Congratulations family.”
Te Matatini was an absolute hit and this group is just one that added to the magic of it all.
On and off the stage, so many awesome moments came over the festival’s four days.
Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau-a-Apanui were crowned 2023 champions of the festival, and they went viral for their waita-ā-ringa - a rendition of a song from all the way back in 1961, ‘Runaround Sue.
A few younger festival goers went viral for whipping out the wiri to direct other fans to their seats, and men from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei - a Tāmaki Makaurau iwi - went viral for hosting the festival's pōwhiri in some fresh as suits.
With an outstanding amount of aroha and tautoko shared between all of NZ, we can’t wait to see what Te Matatini 2025 brings to the table.
