Nau Mai, Haere Mai
Welcome to The Haka Shop. We look forward to hosting you.
Experience the essence of our culture through powerful, vibrant haka and emotional songs of our people, mountains, lakes & rivers. Our performances will touch your senses and stir your soul!
Take a walk with guide “Snow” to the iconic Huka Falls or weave a kete with “Dinny”, learn about our local history and stories or join us for an authentic hangi meal and show.
The Haka Shop is a whanau (family) based business, who is immersed in tikanga (Māori values) such as manaakitanga (hospitality), whanaungatanga (relationships) kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
We are proud of our culture and proud to share with those who wish to be enlightened by our customs and traditions. Our company has knowledge, skills and experience that span from Te Reo Māori (Māori language), protocols, local history and whakapapa (Genealogy) to traditional resourcing.
Tuhingamata History
TUHINGAMATA (pronounced as too-he-nar-martar), meaning to stand, or fight, the faces that fell, “stand and fight to the end,” is the name of our performing group. A group can consist of four to twelve members who are affiliated to the local Māori tribe of Ngāti Tuwharetoa. This name, Tuhingamata, refers to an ancient battle site of those that stood, fought and fell at the scoria hills behind the Rangatira blocks of Acacia Bay in Taupo.
Our costumes depict the colours of the rahoto (red scoria); tuhua (black obsidian) found in our region of Lake Taupō and like that of the scoria and obsidian, we are also referred to as “locals”.
Kapahaka Roopu Affiliation
Waiora Ano 2014-2016
Tuhingamata 2016- current
Te Awhiorangi 2008-2016
Tuwharetoa 2011-2013
Rongomaihuia 2007-2009
Geoff (Snow) Rameka
Ngati Tuwharetoa, Te Arawa, Tainui
Bachelor of Teaching
Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts
Tongariro Taupō Conservation Board Member
Outdoor Instructor, Guide
Kaihautu- Hoe Waka
Iwi/Hapu Representative Ngati Tuwharetoa
Dinny Haumoana
Snowdon-Rameka
Ngati Tuwharetoa, Tuhoe, Ngati Whaatua
NZdip Business Administration
Business Management
Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts
Traditional and Contemporary Weaver/Artist
What makes us special is our philosophy to interact & relate with you on a local level that you will enjoy!
We will not leave things to chance; like a war party, you will be challenged, intimidated and eventually welcomed into the bosom of our culture. In a short space of time, your senses will be stretched and excited by our dynamic energy.
