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Te Tū Mataora continue reign as Rangitāne kapa haka champs

By Mariana Whareaitu, Te Ao Māori Producer

7:28pm

Te Tū Mataora perform at Te Matatini 2025. (Image: Te Matatini Enterprises) (Source: Matatini Enterprises)

Three kapa haka have qualified for Te Matatini 2027 following the Rangitāne regional kapa haka competition held in Palmerston North.

Longstanding regional champions Te Tū Mataora took out the event to continue their reign.

Established in 2008, the veteran group’s win solidifies their new era with a third generation of tutors taking over the helm. They made reference to the changing of the guard in their first-equal placing poi, in what was a solid and strong performance overall.

Te Tini a Rehua and Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne were named second and third respectively.

Established in 2017, Te Tini a Rehua came in with a sharp performance, placing first in both the whakaeke (entry) and haka items.

This is the third regional appearance for Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne who made the national competition for the first time last year. They brought a fresh and modern perspective to the stage with their kākahu, theatrical elements, and movements.

The Rangitāne event is one of two kapa haka regional competitions held today with Tainui results still to come.

Nine groups took to the stage at Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North, to put three groups through to the nationals.

Overall Results

1 Te Tū Mataora

2 Te Tini a Rehua

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

AGGREGATE

Whakaeke

1 Te Tini o Rehua

2 Te Tū Mataora

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

Mōteatea

1 eq

-Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

-Te Tū Mataora

3 Te Tini o Rehua

Waiata ā Ringa

1 Te Tū Mataora

2 Te Tini o Rehua

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

Poi

1 eq

-Te Tini o Rehua

-Te Tū Mataora

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

Haka

1 Te Tini o Rehua

2 Te Tū Mataora

3 Te Whiirkōkō o Rangitāne

NON-AGGREGATE

Waiata Tira

1 Te Tū Mataora

2 Te Tini o Rehua

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

Manukura Wahine

1 Te Tū Mataora

2 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

3 Te Tini o Rehua

Manukura Tāne

1 Te Tini o Rehua

3 Te Tū Mataora

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

Combined Manukura (combined scores)

1 Te Tū Mataora

2 Te Tini o Rehua

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

Kākahu

1 Te Tū Mataora

2 Te Tini o Rehua

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

Titonga hou – mōteatea

1 Te Tū Mataora

Titonga hou – waiata ā ringa

1 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

2 Te Tini o Rehua

Titonga hou – poi

1 Te Tū Mataora

2 Te Tini o Rehua

Titonga hou – haka

1 Te Tū Mataora

2 Te Tini o Rehua

Titonga waiata hou

1 Te Tū Mataora

2 Te Tini o Rehua

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

Taonga pūoro Māori

1 Te Tū Mataora

2 Te Tini o Rehua

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

Te Kairangi o Te Reo ā Tuhi

1 Te Tū Mataora

3 Te Tini o Rehua

3 Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne

New Zealand Te Ao Māori Te Ao Haka Te Matatini

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