Kewa Cashell-Warren

For Kewa Cashell-Warren, taking to the stage at Te Matatini is like coming full circle. Her mother took her to Matatini when she was just six weeks old, to watch her koro perform. Now she’s competing herself for the third time.

Kewa (Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga) performs with Te Tū Mataora. With a school leavers scholarship, the 21-year-old’s studying for a BA in Tikanga Māori and Te Reo Māori. She’s a class rep on four papers, and tutored a Kapa Haka paper as well. If she’s not busy practising Kapa Haka and studying, she’s working in early education and running her own Rongoā Māori business – Iho Healing.

For Kewa, Kapa Haka is about expressing herself. “I don’t like showing my emotions. I like to keep them to myself, for me. But when I do Kapa Haka it’s a chance for me to let all that emotion out. It’s about reconnecting with out tīpuna, and it’s also about learning. Every waiata has a story behind it, whether it’a history or a story about people who have passed away.  You’re always learning new things.”

Who is your Kapa Haka idol?

Tiria Te Kurapa and Tiare Teinakore.

What is your favourite item of the bracket?

Mōteatea.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new student coming to UoW who does Kapa Haka?

Join up with Te Waiora.

How do you keep Haka-fit?

Practising with Te Waiora.

Competing: Friday 22 February - 14th.