About Us – Te Whare Karioi

Piripi was born into this world knowing his heritage through song and dance. His first kapa haka nationals were in his mother’s womb and his first oratory through mōteatea history and pātere (traditional waiata/chants).

It is an intrinsic part of who I am. I was always around our kaumātua, and always at our marae.

My first wero was when I was eight years old at Pokatutu Island, Mangere, and I haven’t stopped since. I continue to do the things I was born - and love - to do. Kapa haka promotes te reo māori me ōna tikanga, and whakapono (belief).

Through Te Whare Karioi we are able to engage with all walks of life, and welcome each and every person to our shore, The Waitematā.

TWK is a vehicle to express our culture, our values, and our way of life.

It began in 1986 and at that time it was called Te Pou Whakairo. It was activated by our iwi, Ngāti Whātua, to represent who we are and provided us with the ability to perform and welcome the masses - not just through ngahau (entertainment), but through pōwhiri (traditional māori welcome).

I have since taken on a new name, Te Whare Karioi, which means The House of Entertainment.

Karioi is a word that we use in Te Ao Māori for entertainment in general. This whare is a central place for all rangatahi (youth) to come together, sing, dance, whakawhanaungatanga (create relationships) and to continue to tell our stories the way we love to tell them, as we know best - through kapa haka.

TWK has a long rich history within the tapestry of Tāmaki Makaurau. For generations we’ve been taking the Māori cultural experience to the world. I’ve chosen to carry on this legacy not just because of the importance of gracing the world with our culture, but to provide mahi (work) and hand down mātauranga māori (knowledge) to our rangatahi.

What do I want for this rōpū?

To stay together, flourish and succeed together. Kapa haka teaches you many things, one is how to spot the good in people, the talent in people - and if you can harness that, pull that out of them, and show them their true potential, these kids will be unstoppable in Te Ao Haka. I give thanks to those who came before me, and instilled te ao Māori in me. My grandmother, my parents, my uncles, and other Rangatira – they all stand with me in everything I do every day with Te Whare Karioi

Te Whare Karioi

Ko wai mātou

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini

Success is not the work of an individual, but that of a collective.

Piripi was born into this world knowing his heritage through song and dance. His first kapa haka nationals were in his mother’s womb and his first oratory through mōteatea history and pātere (traditional waiata/chants).

It is an intrinsic part of who I am. I was always around our kaumātua, and always at our marae.

I have since taken on a new name, Te Whare Karioi, which means The House of Entertainment.

Belief in oneself

Unity, our 'oneness'

Purpose

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, Engari he toa takatini.