Tāwhirimātea flexed and Te Matatini kapa haka responded

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Nothing could take the shine off the kaihaka on day three of Te Matatini at Ngā Ana Wai – Eden Park in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland.

Despite the rain, and a few pauses to performances to allow the weather to ease, the crowds remained.

Market stall owners also said sales were consistent with other days, even with Tāwhirimātea performing a weather flex.

Tasmyn Roach with her son, Kahika Wanakore, sells Māori designed blankets to “wrap our pēpī in their culture from birth”.

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She said the rain helped their sales because lots of people were buying blankets for protection from the rain.

She was pleased that more people are wanting to buy Māori products and support Māori businesses.

“It’s important for Māori to come together and celebrate our culture and with more Māori starting their own businesses, it’s cool to immerse ourselves in te ao Māori and different products and kai.”

“It’s been a pretty cool place to be here today amongst everyone feeling the wairua [spirit],” she said.

Tasmyn Roach with her son Kahika Wanakore in her stall at Te Matatini.

Olivia Shivas/Stuff

Tasmyn Roach with her son Kahika Wanakore in her stall at Te Matatini.

Azure Ellis and Nicole Hawkins have their own separate jewellery businesses and were sharing a table at the market stalls.

On day three of the festival, Hawkins was “tired, but with good vibes still”.

“The weather sucks today but everybody is still in such positive spirits and I think that just speaks of the mauri [life force] of the whole festival,” Hawkins said.

She said being at Te Matatini was a “really cool” opportunity to engage with a diverse customer base in person, rather than online where they normally do business.

One of Ellis’ most popular items was her “Not today coloniser” earrings and she was expecting to sell out by the end of the festival.

STUFF

The programme takes a 15-minute pause for the rain on day 3 of Te Matatini.

The Kaumātua lounge was a hive of activity, where eager supporters looked on and judged every team as they took to the stage.

One of them was Rupine Tahuriorangi, a proud uri (descendant) of Te Arawa and Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai fan.

Talking after the first bracket, Tahuriorangi reckoned everyone had shone on stage.

“They were brilliant. Proud to be Māori. That’s the kōrero around the stadium at the moment,” she said.

“I enjoyed all the groups, to me, they’re all winners. I’m a little bit biased because I’m from Te Arawa, so I have to put them just above – they’re all winners though.”

Azure Ellis and Nicole Hawkins have their own separate jewellery businesses and were sharing a table at the market stalls at Te Matatini.

Eda Tang/Stuff

Azure Ellis and Nicole Hawkins have their own separate jewellery businesses and were sharing a table at the market stalls at Te Matatini.

Glenys Taupo was just closing down her shaved ice stall at the market around 4pm.

She said sales weren’t as busy on Friday compared to the previous day because of the rain, but it was “actually quite good” because it meant she could watch more action on the stage.

Because she sells a typical summer treat, the rain did make a difference, but they were “still busy and had a steady stream” of customers, Taupo said.

Saturday is the last day of Te Matatini where the top rōpū will be crowned champions of kapa haka.

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