A Celebration of Wairua, Whānau, and Tradition
Te Matatini o Te Kahui Maunga 2025 will forever be a highlight of our pakihi haerenga and an extraordinary experience. From the moment we arrived, we knew this event would be more than just a Kapahaka festival, it would be a celebration of the wairua of our people, our heritage, and our creativity. The energy, the pride, and the unity shared over the five incredible days was electric and a true testament to the resilience and mana of Māori culture.
Proud to be Māori
Being part of Te Matatini this year filled us with so much pride. There’s something powerful about seeing so many Māori whānau gather in one place to celebrate our traditions, customs, and our connection to each other. The waiata and the haka echoed across the venue, each performance a reminder of our strength, unity, and history. Each group brought something unique to the stage, showcasing the creativity, passion, and talent of our people.
What struck us the most was the overwhelming sense of kotahitanga. This wasn’t just a festival; it was a stunning display of our culture, where each person, each group, and each performer was connected to something much larger than themselves. The mana of our people was palpable, and it made us feel proud to be Māori, proud of our people, and proud of the generations who have passed these traditions down.
BO & KO ki Te Matatini
At Te Matatini, BO & KO had the privilege of connecting with so many whānau. It was so heartwarming to see nannies excitedly purchasing our baby blankets, wraps and other items for their future mokopuna. The best part for our pakihi was hearing the incredible feedback from whānau who already had our products for their pēpi and couldn’t speak more highly of them. Many shared how our baby wraps and items had become their favourite go to baby gifts for pēpi, and how much they appreciated the quality and care that went into every piece. This validated that at BO & KO our products are made to last and not just for one pēpi to enjoy but for generations. We’ve succeeded in knowing we’re creating an heirloom truly special for whānau, and we couldn’t be prouder.
Ngā mihi maioha to everyone who came through, shared their stories with us or let us have some snuggles with your beautiful pēpi - whānau is the reason we do what we do.
Five Days of Kai, Laughter, and Whanaungatanga
Over the five days, we were blessed to experience so much more than just selling our products. The kai, the performances, the other pakihi, the visitors and whānau expressed a deep sense of connection we have to the land and to each other.
The mauri was contagious, there was a constant buzz of excitement as we met new people, reconnected with old friends, shared stories with whānau and got to snuggle and see all the gorgeous pēpi!
A huge highlight was the privilege of exhibiting BO & KO and sharing our pakihi ki te ao. Not only did we sell out of product collections but we helped to educate new parents and provide valuable resources for whānau. The long days of waking up at 4.30am were well worth it! We had two amazing kaimahi help us over the days and couldn't have done it without them.
A Stunning Venue at The Bowl of Brooklands
The venue, The Bowl of Brooklands, was the perfect backdrop for the biannual event. Surrounded by trees, the sound of waiata and haka echoed through the air, creating a truly magical atmosphere. The setting felt like it was made for this kind of gathering, with the natural landscape adding to the beauty of the performances. There was something so special about hearing waiata reverberate through the trees, a reminder that our traditions have always been deeply tied to the whenua.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou
Te Matatini 2025 brought in more than 75,000 people. People from all walks of life came together but this wouldn't have been possible without all the venue volunteers, bus drivers, car park wardens, the venue coordinators, the kai vendors, mākete vendors each and everyone contributed to the overall experience. The spirit of kotahitanga was strong and it was clear that no matter where we came from, we were all there for the same purpose to celebrate, to honor, and to preserve Māori culture that binds us all.
Here’s to many more years of celebrating our wairua, our whānau, and our heritage. Te Matatini, you were nothing short of magic!
