Ngā Purapura named Te Kāhui Maunga kapa haka regional champs

Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru have been named as Te Kāhui Maunga regional kapa haka champions in Waitara to qualify for the Te Matatini nationals.

The event hosts closed the day with an emphatic performance that impressed judges and fans alike. Poi and three feathers - a symbol of peace in the region - featured heavily throughout their items. The group's men also performed poi, which they are known to do in the region's sacred practice of poi manu, but not widely in competitive kapa haka.

Their win ends a longtime streak by Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana, who placed second.

The other two groups joining them at the nationals to represent Te Kāhui Maunga are South Taranaki's Ngā Waihotanga, and Te Kura Nui o Paerangi from Whanganui.

Taranaki ki te Tonga delivered a nostalgic performance to open the event. Many of its kaihaka are founding members of the famous Pātea Māori Club. Their bracket was filled with waiata from the 1980s album Poi E: The Musical, featuring the iconic song of the same name.

Te Kapa Haka o Ngāruahine took the opportunity to correct a beloved waiata-ā-ringa of the Taranaki region, Haruru Ana, whose wide use as an iwi anthem meant a number of different variations to the song and actions.

Taranaki iwi group Te Moungaroa were a stand-out with their distinctive and unique style of kapa haka. Traditional chants coupled with contemporary-like actions and movements. Their bracket was kupu (word) heavy, featuring a waiata-ā-ringa (action song) delivered in a chanting style of a mōteatea (traditional chant).

Rātana Pā based kapa (group) Te Reanga Mōrehu took fans to church with their waiata tira (choral) item, directed by choirmaster Te Taepa Kameta who was decked out in startling white, light blue, and red accented church robes. Kameta, hailed by many during yesterday’s pōwhiri as a key figure behind Rātana’s kapa haka prowess was acknowledged today at prizegiving for his contribution to kapa haka, alongside another Rātana stalwart, Te Rangi Hema.

Members of Te Kura Nui o Paerangi from Whanganui are all former students of the three kura kaupapa in the city – Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi, Te Kura o Kokohuia, and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tupoho. Their playful whakawātea (exit item) acknowledged the kids of parents who perform kapa haka, those who are lovingly dragged to practices and performances.

Ngā Waihotanga, representing South Taranaki, brought intensity to the stage with storytelling chops. Their mōteatea, which they had previously performed at Te Matatini 2025, a stark reminder of the atrocities Taranaki people faced during the 1880s.

Many of the groups performed poi manu, a sacred poi practice, which the Taranaki and Whanganui iwi are known for. Another common element groups brought on stage was the drum.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer performed for Taranaki ki te Tonga.

1 Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

2 Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

3 Ngā Waihotanga

4 Te Kura Nui o Paerangi

Ngā Pakeke o Rātana

1 Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

2 eq (2 groups)

-Te Kura Nui o Paerangi

-Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

1 eq (2 groups)

-Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

-Ngā Waihotanga

3 Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

1 eq (2 groups)

-Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

-Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

3 Ngā Waihotanga

1 Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

2 Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

3 Ngā Waihotanga

1 Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

2 eq (3 groups)

-Ngā Waihotanga

-Te Kura Nui o Paerangi

-Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

1 Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

2 Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

3 Ngā Waihotanga

1 Te Kura Nui o Paerangi

2 Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

3 Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

1 Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

2 Ngā Waihotanga

3 Te Rōpū Tūtū Kā’ika

1 Te Kura Nui o Paerangi

2 eq (2 groups)

-Ngā Waihotanga

-Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

1 eq (2 groups)

-Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

-Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

3 Ngā Waihotanga

1 eq (2 groups)

-Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

-Ngā Waihotanga

3 Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

1 eq (2 groups)

-Te Kura Nui o Paerangi

-Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

3 Ngā Waihotanga

1 eq (2 groups)

-Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

-Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

3 Ngā Waihotanga

1 eq (2 groups)

-Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana

-Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

3 Ngā Waihotanga

1 eq (3 groups)

-Te Kura Nui o Paerangi

-Ngā Waihotanga

-Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

1 eq (2 groups)

-Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru

-Te Kura Nui o Te Paerangi

3 eq (2 groups)

-Te Rōpū Tūtū Ka’ika

-Ngā Waihotanga