‘Rongoā helps me live my kapa haka life’

For Karalee Whiu, kapa haka is life. 

The 31-year-old has been immersed in kapa haka for as long as she can remember. 

Last week, she showcased her love for kapa haka on stage at Te Matatini, the largest celebration of traditional Māori performing arts in the world. 

A total of 55 kapa (groups) gathered at Pukekura/Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth to compete on stage to thousands over the course of the week.

Karalee, who is a relationship manager for ACC’s Te Rangapū Hauora Māori (Māori Health team), was competing at Te Matatini for her fifth time, as part of Waikato-based group Te Iti Kahurangi. 

“Kapa haka connects me to my culture and my language,” she says. 

“When we learn new waiata (songs), it’s a direct link to my ancestors. I use these learnings and teachings from my tūpuna (ancestors) and implement them into my everyday life.” 

Karalee is based in Northland, but in the lead up to Te Matatini she travelled down to the Waikato every second weekend for training. 

The five-and-a-half-hour drive (one way) is worth it to Karalee because she says the people within the team become like family.

Karalee joined Te Iti Kahurangi when she was 20 and attending university in Hamilton.

“From a young age, I formed life-long relationships through kapa haka – and it’s those people who keep bringing me back,” she says.

“The whānau aspect to kapa haka and the environment it creates is not like anything else I’ve experienced.”

Learning resilience through kapa haka

Karalee has learned many skills through kapa haka that transfer into other aspects of her life. 

She says resilience is one that comes to mind. 

In the lead-up to Te Matatini, weekend practices ran until late into the night.

“You’re on your feet from about 9am to 10pm during those practices,” she says. 

“By the end of the day, my joints are calling out for the kawakawa oil.”

Kawakawa oil is one of the ways Karalee combines kapa haka and rongoā (traditional Māori healing).

“We live in native bush and the kawakawa my mum uses is from the whenua (land) we live on,” she says.

“It nourishes my nan’s arthritis, and I use it if I’m feeling tender and sore from trainings.”

Karalee booked in to see a rongoā practitioner just before she went away to Te Matatini.

“This is to make sure I’m ready not only physically, but mentally and spiritually too. For me, kapa haka is life and rongoā enables me to live my kapa haka life.

“Rongoā enables me to be my authentic self.”

Partnering with Te Matatini to promote wellbeing

Rongoā has been available through ACC as a rehabilitation service since 2020 and has now helped over 13,500 ACC kiritaki (clients) across the motu (country).

Throughout Te Matatini, ACC offered whānau the chance to experience rongoā at the ACC tent.

ACC Deputy Chief Executive Māori Rēnata Blair says ACC is proud to be involved in the festival.

“Te Matatini provides us with a unique opportunity to connect with whānau from across the motu and share how we’re working to support the hauora (health) and oranga (wellbeing) of hapori Māori,” he says. 

“We’re proud to partner with Te Matatini to celebrate Māori excellence and tautoko our kaihaka (performers) from within ACC and across Aotearoa and Ahitereiria.”

Everyone who performs at Te Matatini is proud to represent their whānau, hapū and iwi, Karalee says.

“It’s such a vibe – everyone is on a high. There’s cool stalls, great kai – and it’s loud,” she says.