Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri crowned regional Tainui kapa haka champions

Six groups have qualified for Te Matatini 2027 from the Tainui regional competitions held at Te Papanui Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton.

Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri were named regional Tainui champions following a highly competitive line-up of kapa haka.

Their energy was palpable and their performance included a back-bending poi, a haka punctuated with short, sharp and compact actions that drove their message home. They put an exclamation mark on an overall polished performance with a lively whakawātea (exit) item welcoming one and all to Te Matatini 2027 as hosts.

Joining them to host and represent Tainui at Te Matatini are Te Iti Kahurangi, Te Kapa Haka o Aawhina i Te Kaupapa, Te Haona Kaha, Mōtai Tangata Rau, and Te Kapa Haka o Ngā Pua o Te Kōwhara.

The two-day event saw 23 groups take the stage.

Taonga pūoro (traditional Māori instruments) was introduced as a new judged item.

Two pairings of ‘tuakana-teina’ (older-younger sibling) groups drew the luck of the draw, performing back-to-back with each other.

The first pairing of Mōtai Nohoanga Iti and Mōtai Tangata Rau opened the competition and set the tone for the highly competitive event while Te Iti Kahurangi and Te Pae Kahurangi would perform in the final part of the day.

Mōtai Nohoanga Iti came in strong with a dynamic, cheeky and bold poi item that featured a daring ‘no-look’ throw while tuakana Mōtai Tangata Rau matched the energy with a performance that would see them through as one of the six to represent the region.

Two groups will be making their debut at Te Matatini 2027 – Te Rōpū Aawhina i Te Kaupapa and whānau-centred group Te Haona Kaha.

Filled with former students of Te Wharekura o Rākaumangamanga, Te Rōpū Aawhina took the opportunity to mark the 130th anniversary of the school with their whakawātea (exit) item.

Te Haona Kaha clearly impressed judges with placings in a number of categories including second in new composition, waiata tira (choral item), and karanga; and third place in whakaeke (entry), poi, taonga pūoro, and ngā taonga a Tū (weaponry).

Labour’s newly announced Hauraki-Waikato candidate Kingi Kiriona hard-launched his campaign at the Tainui kapa haka regionals today announcing his bid on stage wearing red kākahu (clothing) in contrast to his group’s blue, purple and white strip.

During his whaikōrero he addressed the elephant in the room, confirming reports of his candidacy and giving thanks to Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po for her blessing to run. He said he would uphold her wish for him to work together with incumbent Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke.

The announcement was received warmly by the crowd who applauded at the news.

Te Iti Kahurangi backed him up with a kaioraora – a traditional chant specifically used to express anger, dissatisfaction and frustration – that explained his reasons for why he agreed to stand. The group placed third in whaikōrero and second in the mōteatea category respectively.

To date, thirty-five groups have been confirmed for Te Matatini and eight of 13 regional competitions have now been held - Tainui (6), Rangitāne (3), Te Taitokerau (3), Te Whenua Moemoeā (3), Te Arawa (6), Te Kāhui Maunga (4), Mātaatua (6), Tākitimu (4).

The five regional competitions left are Te Tau Ihu in Nelson, Tairāwhiti in Gisborne, Tāmaki Makaurau, Waitaha in Christchurch, and Te Whanganui a Tara in Wellington.

1 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

2 Te Iti Kahurangi

3 Te Kapa Haka o Aawhina i Te Kaupapa

4 Te Haona Kaha

5 Mōtai Tangata Rau

6 Te Kapa Haka o Ngā Pua o Te Kōwhara

1 Mōtai Tangata Rau

2 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

3 Te Iti Kahurangi

1 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

2 Te Iti Kahurangi

3 Te Haona Kaha

1 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

2 Te Iti Kahurangi

3 Te Kapa Haka o Ngā Pua o Te Kōwhara

1 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

2 Te Iti Kahurangi

3 Te Kapa Haka o Ngā Pua o Te Kōwhara

1 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

2 Te Iti Kahurangi

3 Te Haona Kaha

1 Te Kapa Haka o Aawhina i Te Kaupapa

2 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

3 Te Iti Kahurangi

1 Te Iti Kahurangi

2 Te Kapa Haka o Ngā Pua o Te Kōwhara

3 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

Te Kapa Haka o Aawhina i Te Kaupapa

1 Te Rau Kohekohe ki te Pūaha o Waikato

2 Tai Aroha

3 Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Wairere

1 Mōtai Nohoanga Iti

2 Te Pou o Mangatawhiri

3 Te Haona Kaha

1 Te Pou o Mangatawhiri

2 Te Iti Kahurangi

3 Te Toka Tuu o Waikato

1 Te Iti Kahurangi

2 Te Pou o Mangatawhiri

3 Mōtai Tangata Rau

1 Te Iti Kahurangi

2 Te Haona Kaha

3 Te Kapa Haka o Aawhina i Te Kaupapa

1 Mōtai Tangata Rau

2 Te Haona Kaha

3 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

1 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

2 Te Haona Kaha

3 Te Toka Tuu o Waikato

1 Te Kapa Haka o Ngā Pua o Te Kōwhara

2 Te Haona Kaha

3 Te Pae Kahurangi

1 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

2 Mōtai Tangata Rau

3 Te Iti Kahurangi

1 Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri

2 Te Toka Tuu o Waikato

3 Te Haona Kaha