NGARINO TE WAATI
Iwi: Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti Kahu, Ngai te Rangi, Waikato
Ngarino is a versatile Kaihaka with skills in kapa haka, Māori movement, weaponry, taonga puoro, directing, acting and presenting. He has an immense passion for Health, Fitness and Māori Performing arts, which has led to a number of experiences including The Haka Theatre Production Arohanui – The Greatest Love, Maui – One man against the Gods and Hohepa – NZ opera.
Ngarino (Beez) is a valued member of Te Waka Huia and has represented at several Te Matatini Kapa Haka Competitions. He is inspired by Te ao maori me ona tikanga.
Ngarino says, “I learnt through my wrongs and my faults and my mistakes. Through that came a phase of rediscovery, therefore, I was reborn.”
Ngarino asked himself, “What’s my purpose in the world? I was searching and searching but it was right there in front of me. “Which was to nurture my kids and for them to know their place as the leaders of the future.”
From this experience, the passion that he has for what he does went up tenfold. Māori movement, Orokoroa sessions that he’s established and many other ventures. “There are a lot of kaupapa already here in Aotearoa, and I was lucky enough to establish my own under the sacred house of Āio, which people can use it as a safe space.” Te Waati hopes that what he’s currently doing will contribute and inspire people to be unashamed to be Māori in today’s modern world. “I am here willingly to break the barriers down that hold our people against the wall and colonisation has a big part to play in this. “We have the tools and resources and knowledge for what is best for us moving forward.” Te Waati is a beacon for those aspirations of our ancestors to be upheld in the future.