Cheer on our whānau, karawhuia

• Published date: 15 April 2024
• Publication title: Bush Telegraph

Rōpū kapa haka from around the Manawatū, Te Taperenui o Whatonga (Dannevirke and districts), Masterton and Horowhenua regions will be looking to secure a spot at Te Matatini, the bi-annual national kapa haka festival in 2025, hosted by Te Kahui Maunga in Ngāmotu/New Plymouth

There are 12 regional competitions across Aotearoa New Zealand and one in Australia, where teams compete to qualify for the nationals. Regionals began in February and the standard of kapa haka across the motu has been excellent with four more regions yet to compete.

Tamaki nui-ā-Rua are sending two groups to compete at the regionals. Te Ringa Kaha will be looking to return to Te Matatini after competing at Eden Park last year, the first time a kapa has represented Tamaki nui-ā-Rua on the national stage.

With experience in the pressure cooker of national kapa haka under their tātua (belt), they will be looking to use that to not only make their way through the regional competition but also improve on their last performance.

Also standing this weekend for the first time are Te Riu o Tamaki, a whakangahau (entertainment) rōpū. They’ve also been putting in the hard yards to be performance-ready. Te Riu o Tamaki are tutored by some of the members of Te Ringa Kaha, whose national showing at Te Matatini last time has led to an increased interest in the takiwā (district) of kapa haka.

Having two teams from Tamaki nui-ā-Rua competing in the Rangitāne regionals shows the growth of...