Paora Sharples

Paora is Kaihautu Tikanga (Te reo me ngā tikanga Māori leader) at NPM and also a Professional Teaching Fellow at the Department of Māori Studies, University of Auckland where he lectures in Kapahaka, Traditional & Contemporary Māori Performing Arts and Te Reo Māori. 

He has had a significant career in kapahaka as well as traditional and contemporary Māori performing arts, including areas of performing, teaching/training, directing, judging as well as choreography and composition within this indigenous genre of dance.

Paora has also spent 30 years developing, teaching and promoting the art of Māori weaponry, empowering thousands of students both nationally and internationally within the ceremonial, performing and fighting art that is Mau Rakau.

He is a past CEO of Hoani Waititi Marae and also of Te Whare Tu Taua o Aotearoa Inc, has fulfilled a number of consultancy and advisory roles nationally and has performed, spoken and taught at a large number of international and national events.

Paora is the current leader of the cultural group Te Ropū Manutaki, and fulfils an ongoing role judging regional, national and international Kapahaka competitions.