Kua kopoua e te Tumu Whakarae o Te Matatini, e Carl Ross, ko Watson Ohia te Kaiwhiriwhiri Matua mō Te Matatini o ngā Taniwha, ka tū ki Hopuhopu, Ngāruawāhia ā te Pēpuere 2027.
Mā te Kaiwhiriwhiri Matua e ārahi te rōpū kaiwhakawā mō ngā rā e whā o te whakataetae me te rā whakamutunga ki te whakatau i ngā toa o ia wāhanga me te Toa whakaihuwaka. Kua whakapuaki a Carl Ross i tana whakapono nui ki a Watson ki te kawe i tēnei tūranga na roto i tana wheako hei kaiārahi kapa haka, tana tino mōhio ki te haka, me tana wheako hei kaiwhakawā i ngā whakataetae o mua.
Nō Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāi Te Rangi, me Ngāti Pukenga a Watson Ohia. I akona ia e ngā rangatira kapa haka e Tīmoti Kāretu, Te Rita Papesch, me Joe Harawira i Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato. Kua ia hoki he kaiwhakawā mō Te Matatini mō ngā wā e whitu, ā, ko ia tētahi o ngā kaiwhakatū i te rōpū kapa haka o Rangimārie i Waikato, i whakaako hoki i Rākaumanga me Ngā Taiātea.
Watson Ohia Chief Judge for Te Matatini Festival 2027
Te Matatini Chief Executive Carl Ross has confirmed Watson Ohia as Kaiwhiriwhiri Matua (Chief Judge) for Te Matatini o ngā Taniwha, the 2027 National Kapa Haka Festival being held at Hopuhopu, Ngāruawāhia in February.
“I am pleased to announce Mr Watson Ohia has accepted the role of Kaiwhiriwhiri Matua for Te Matatini o ngā Taniwha 2027,” says Mr Ross.
“The role carries immense responsibility, and I have complete confidence in Mr Ohia fulfilling the duties of Chief Judge due to his involvement as a kapa haka leader, significant knowledge of haka, and his experience as a Te Matatini judge at previous Festivals,” he says.
“Te Matatini is excited to be supporting Mr Ohia and the panel of judges at Te Matatini o ngā Taniwha which will be announced in the near future.”