Kathleen Bond was “shocked and ecstatic” to win the 2023 Te Mire Ura Experts female title at Rehab Nightclub on Friday night. She was still reeling from the win yesterday afternoon.

Bond participated in Te Mire Ura Experts event in 2019 and 2020 and gave it a miss in the past two years before deciding to give it another go last week.

“It’s an amazing feeling and experience to be up on the stage dancing and it doesn’t really matter whether you win or not,” said Bond.

“It really is such an amazing event, thanks to Tauranga Vananga (Ministry of Cultural Development).

“Also, I’d like to mention the emcee Papatua Papatua, he is the best and is really encouraging. When I’m on that stage what he says it really touches me.”

Bond dedicated her performance to her niece Liahona Taio who had given her blessing to use her song “Conserve all our birds” – an original composition written and sung by Katreena Smith.

She would like to acknowledge “my inspiration” Uirangi Bishop for her assistance with choreography, Mona Taio for tutoring, Eiau Tangapiri and Ricky Boaza for Slow Beat costume and Tehina Pennycook for Fast Beat costume.