Dr Ngapo (Nepi) Wehi QSM was a revered composer, performer, and leader in Māori performing arts. For over five decades, he played a central role in the development and excellence of kapa haka in Aotearoa.

Together with his wife, the late Pimia Wehi, he co-founded the renowned kapa haka group *Te Waka Huia* and earlier led *Ngāti Rānana* in London. Wehi’s compositions are celebrated for their poetic power, cultural depth, and spiritual resonance, blending traditional forms with contemporary expression to tell the stories of iwi, whenua, and whakapapa.

A master of whakaraka (movement), *waiata* (song), and whakaari (performance), Wehi mentored generations of performers and composers, lifting the standards of Māori performing arts while maintaining its tikanga. His leadership and legacy continue to inspire and shape the national stage, and his influence remains woven through the fabric of kapa haka today.

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