for the 'Olympics of kapa haka'
At just 29, Pere Wihongi has already made an impact as a pop culture champion of Māori language. Siena Yates meets the busy musician, composer, actor and director as he prepares for the “Olympics of kapa haka”, Te Matatini.
They say that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life, and few embody that sentiment as much as Pere Wihongi.
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone spinning more plates at once, but it’d be harder still to find someone who does so with as much joy as he does.
Most people know Wihongi as a musician, a kapa haka superstar and head tutor, an award-winning recording artist and a member of the record-breaking collective Maimoa.
Others know him as a television reporter, producer, director and editor on shows such as Te Karere, Marae, Pūkana, Pipi Mā and more.
To a new generation, he is even a magical Disney snowman named Olaf.
Link to video and article: Pere Wihongi is carving his own path for the 'Olympics of kapa haka' | Stuff.co.nz
