Te Whānau-ā-Apanui crowned the winners of Te Matatini

Te Whānau-ā-Apanui have tonight been crowned the winners of Te Matatini.

The seasoned kapa haka group, hailing from Mātaatua, wowed the judges and crowds alike with their performance at Auckland's Eden Park.

This year's win marks the third time Te Whānau a Apanui have taken home the prestigious trophy.

Te Tai Rāwhiti group Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti and Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue from Te Arawa were named second equal.

Forty-five kapa haka groups took to the stage over three days, with just 12 making it through to the finals today.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins joined the Te Matatini festivities for the first time this year.

"I can see why they call it the Olympics of Kapa Haka," he wrote on social media this evening.

"What an amazing celebration. I’ll be back next time for sure!"

The festival saw its grand return this week after years of setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

TOA WHAKAIHU WAKA / Overall

1st: Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui

2nd equal: Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti, Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue

WHAKAEKE

1. Tauira Mai Tawhiti, Angitu, Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti

MŌTEATEA

1. Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti, Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui

2. Te Pou o Mangataawhiri, Te Iti Kahurangi

WAIATA Ā-RINGA

1. Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue

2. Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao, Te Hekenga ā Rangi, Te Iti Kahurangi, Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui

POI

1. Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Angitu, Te Pou o Mangataawhiri, Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui

HAKA

1. Te Taha Tū, Ngā Tūmanako

2. Angitu, Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai, Te Waka Huia, Te Rangiura o Wairarapa, Te Iti Kahurangi, Te Hekenga ā Rangi

WHAKAWĀTEA

1. Tauira Mai Tawhiti, Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue, Te Pou o Mangataawhiri, Te Iti Kahurangi, Te Mātārae I Ōrehu

KAIRANGI O TE MITA O TE REO MĀORI

1. Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue

2. Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti, Te Iti Kahurangi, Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui

KĀKAHU / Clothing:

1. Tauira Mai Tawhiti, Te Iti Kahurangi

2. Angitu, Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai, Te Mātārae I Ōrehu, Waihīrere

MANUKURA WAHINE / Female leader:

1. Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue

2. Te Mātārae I Ōrehu

MANUKURA TĀNE / Male leader:

1. Te Waka Huia, Te Rangiura o Wairarapa, Te Taha Tū

WAIATA TIRA / Choral:

1. Hātea Kapa Haka, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao, Te Reanga Mōrehu o Ratana

TITONGA HŌU - MŌTEATEA / New composition - Moteatea:

1. Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue

TITONGA HOU – WAIATA-Ā-RINGA / New composition – Action song:

1. Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue

TITONGA HŌU - POI / New composition – Poi:

1. Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti, Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui

TITONGA HŌU - HAKA / New composition – Haka:

1. Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue

2. Tauira Mai Tawhiti, Hātea Kapa Haka, Tūtarakauika ki Rangataua, Te Mātārae I Ōrehu, Waihīrere, Te Roopū Manutaki

TITONGA WAIATA HŌU / New composition – New waiata:

1. Waihīrere, Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue

2. Te Hekenga ā Rangi, Te Iti Kahurangi

TE KAIRANGI O TE REO Ā-TUHI / Written

1. Ngā Pua o Te Kōwhara, Te Iti Kahurangi

2. Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue, Te Hekenga ā Rangi, Ngā Purapura o Te Tai Hauāuru, Waihīrere