Our Group Profile
Read our profile, Mission & Vision.
See our Core Values and Core
Philosophies, & what our
Future plans hold for us.
Our Profile
Te Atawhai Puumanawa Maori Performing Arts Group was established in 2019 by a passionate young man who embraces and asserts his unique blend of cultural heritage in Kapa Haka (Kapa – meaning “in rows” and Haka – meaning “to dance”) or otherwise known as Traditional Maori Song and Dance.
Today Te Atawhai Puumanawa have over 30 performing members who are a collection of young, old, enthusiastic and dedicated Maori from all over Victoria (some members travel more than an hour).
Te Atawhai Puumanawa tutors, Aiden Jensen-Mahu and Pare Ariki, whose collective Kapa Haka experience far outnumber their years, provides Te Atawhai Puumanawa with essential expertise to assist an all-embracing and vibrant group. Having been part of Kapa Haka all their lives, in particular Kapa Haka competitions, Te Atawhai Puumanawa tutors draw upon a wealth of experience to firmly guide and nurture Te Atawhai Puumanawa performers to produce and consistently maintain a high level of excellence in performing arts. This standard has ensured Te Atawhai Puumanawa’s success in all its endeavours, nationally, internationally, past, present and future.
Te Atawhai Puumanawa also pride themselves in their appearance, with their meticulous maintenance of traditional and contemporary uniforms, materials and instruments, it’s easy to appreciate the standard of professionalism in appearance on and off stage.
Te Atawhai Puumanawa have established a reputation as a provider of Cultural Education and Awareness Programs promoting Maori Cultural Arts through Song, Dance, Music, Language and History to all levels within the Education sector.
Te Atawhai Puumanawa have been wholly responsible for, and continue to engage in, countless forms of cultural promotion and advocacy through various community and corporate engagements, festivals, and store openings to name a few. Most notable sporting performances and moments have been at the opening ceremony of the T20 Cricket World Cup 2022, which was enjoyed by over 50,000+ (cricketaustralia.com.au) people that were in attendance. An invitation to breakfast with Sir Michael Jones KNZM (Ex-All Blacks), and Andrew Blowers (Ex All Blacks and Melbourne Storm Wellbeing Officer) at the 2023 Leadership Conference; and competing in and representing Te Atawhai Puumanawa during the 2021 Te Wero (The Challenge) Sporting Events.
Te Atawhai Puumanawa has also participated in collaborative ventures with other factions of the Polynesian community to provide cultural services at the Waitangi Celebrations (Good Juju 2023 Festival Event), and the 2022 Pasifika Cultural Event which showcased and highlighted indigenous cultural performing arts from all over Victoria.
Our immediate future endeavours are to compete in up and coming state, national and international Maori performing Arts competitions; and to some day represent Australia at the Hawaiian Te Manahua Festival held at the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Laie. Given the sheer scope and breadth of these endeavours, Te Atawhai Puumanawa has launched a rigorous advertising campaign where every effort is dedicated to performances, sourcing sponsorship and fundraising events to support a full performing team (40 people), along with about 15-20 support staff, family and friends (Approx. 45-50 people).
Vision Statement
“Te Atawhai Puumanawa is committed wholeheartedly to the development and pursuit of Kapa Haka (Māori Performing Arts) excellence. Driving competitive growth while fostering creativity and encouraging new and exciting expressions of Kapa Haka for all Maori living throughout Australia.
‘Tuu tewhatewha tuu, Te Hokioi, Ko ngaa pae tawhiti, whaia kia tata. Ko ngaa pae tata whakamaua kia tina.’
‘Te Hokioi is summoned to act and bring change, for the potential of tomorrow depends on what we do today’
In essence: To hold fast to our identity as well as the knowledge and teachings from our forebears, to uphold Tainui kawa, Tainui tiikanga and Tainui mana here in Victoria.
Mission Statement
Te Atawhai Puumanawa’s mission is to provide a platform for Maori to promote, encourage and support cultural enrichment and to preserve, maintain and protect our cultural identity, heritage and traditions.
These efforts will be in the hope of revitalizing Tainuitanga here in Victoria, whilst acknowledging the culture and traditions of the people of this land.
Core Values
- To create an environment that nurtures, encourages and supports the involvement and participation of young people.
- To be wholeheartedly committed to the development and pursuit of Kapa Haka (Māori Performing Arts) excellence by nurturing and supporting the growth of Kapa Haka at national and international competition level.
- To drive competitive growth while fostering creativity and encouraging new and exciting expressive forms of Kapa Haka whereby enhancing and developing the skill sets of its members in Maori and Polynesian Performing Arts in all its forms.
- To provide a platform to promote and showcase excellence in Maori Cultural Craft & Performing Arts through mediums of Song, Dance, Music, Sculpture, Art, Language and History.
Core Philosophies
- To share, promote and encourage cultural exchanges with local, national and international groups and organisations.
- To actively participate with, engage and support various community, local indigenous and multicultural Performing Arts groups.
- To develop a marketing and fundraising plan to seek and gain supplementary grants together with fundraising events and sponsorship support from corporate and government bodies.
- To strengthen alliance relationships with local, regional, and national cultural and multicultural groups and organisations that support excellence in Maori Performing Arts in competitive and non-competitive arenas.
- To promote and support the long term development of contemporary Maori artists and performers.
- To subscribe to, or actively seek involvement with, publications whose purpose encompasses the advertising and promotion of Māori and Polynesian Performing Arts in all its forms.