Te Kapa Puāwai of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae are Te Mana Kuratahi national primary school kapa haka champions for 2023, making them the first group to win the title an unprecedented four times.
Tutor Te Raina Pihama credits the young performers for their enthusiasm and work ethic.
"E mōhio pai ana mātou e tino hīkaka anō rātou, koa ana, hihiri ana (We know it's an exciting time for them, they're very happy and eager)."
"Nō mātou ngā kaiako te whiwhi i hiahia rātou te ako, i hiahia rātou ki te mahi i te mahi (We teachers were fortunate they wanted to learn, they wanted to put the work in)."
The combined primary, intermediate and secondary kura now boasts two champion teams, with Te Kapa Puāwai joining their tuakana (senior) group, Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi, who won their national competition last year as current title holders.
Alongside Hoani Waititi Marae-based adult group Ngā Tūmanako, who were also winners of the prestigious Te Matatini competition in 2019, this latest win solidifies their prowess within the world of haka.
When asked by Te Karere what makes the kura so successful in kapa haka, principal Hare Rua said they have always aspired to the values that were put in place by the likes of the school's founder Sir Pita Sharples, a haka exponent himself.
"E whakapapa mai ana mai i a Papa Pita mā, Whaea Aroha Paenga mā, heke noa mai ki ngā mokopuna o te rangi nei (It stems from the teachings of our Papa Pita, as well as Whaea Aroha Paenga, and it comes down to the present generation)."
The group is expected to return tonight and they and their taonga will be welcomed back to Hoani Waititi Marae in a special ceremony on Monday after a well-deserved day off school tomorrow.
Bay of Plenty-based groups Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki of Te Kura o Maungatapu from Te Waka Pererua - Tauranga Moana and Ngā Taiohi / Te Kura o Te Teko from the Mataatua ki Rangitaiki region came second and third respectively.
The four-day event saw 45 teams from around the country descend on Nelson to compete for the crown. It's the first time the South Island has hosted the event since its inception in 2000.
The biennial event will next take place in Te Waka Pererua Tauranga region.
TE MANA KURATAHI 2023 KI WHAKATŪ - FULL RESULTS
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TOA WHAKAIHU WAKA - Overall winners
1st - Te Kapa Puāwai / TKKM o Hoani Waititi Marae
2nd - Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki / Te Kura o Maungatapu
3rd - Ngā Taiohi / Te Kura o Te Teko
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AGGREGATE ITEMS
Whakaeke
1st equal - Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki, Te Kura o Te Koutu, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae, Te Whānau o Te Maro Hauhake
Mōteatea
1st equal - Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, Te Kura o Te Pāroa, Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki, Te Kura o Te Teko, Te Kura o Te Koutu
Waiata ā ringa
1st equal - Te Kura o Te Pāroa, Te Kura o Te Teko, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae, Te Whānau o Te Maro Hauhake
Poi
1st - Te Kura o Te Teko
2nd equal - Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, Te Kura o Te Koutu
3rd - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga
Haka
1st - Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki
2nd equal - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Te Kura o Te Teko, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae, Te Whānau o Te Maro Hauhake
3rd equal - Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere, Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha
Whakawātea
1st equal - Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki, Te Wharekura o Rākaumanga, Te Whānau o Te Maro Hauhake
Te Reo
1st - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae
2nd equal - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata, Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha
3rd equal - Te Kura o Te Pāroa, Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki
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NON-AGGREGATE ITEMS
Manukura Tāne
1st - Te Kura o Te Teko
2nd - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori a Rohe o Māngere
3rd equal - Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Te Kapa Haka o Otepou, Te Pūwhāriki, Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere, Te Wharekura o Ruatoki, Te Pā o Rākaihautu, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi, Te Wharekura o Rākaumanga
Manukura Wahine
1st equal - Ngā Huiarau o Kawakawa, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori a Rohe o Māngere, Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki, Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere, Te Kura o Te Teko, Te Kura o Te Koutu, Te Whānau o Te Maro Hauhake
Kākahu
1st equal - Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki, Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata, Te Kura o Te Koutu, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori-ā-Rohe o Waiohau, Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha
Waiata Tira
1st - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae
2nd equal - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori a rohe o Māngere, Te Whānau o Te Maro Hauhake
3rd equal - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha
Whaikōrero
1st equal -Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori a Rohe o Māngere
Karanga
1st equal - Te Kura o Te Pāroa, Te Kura o Te Teko, Te Kura o Te Koutu, Te Wharekura o Ruatoki
Year 0-6 Tamariki - Best Primary School Group
1st -Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki
Titonga Hou
1st equal - Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, Te Kapa Haka o Te Pūwhāriki, Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae
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