Te Kuru Marutea has taken out the Tauihu (top of the South Island) kapa haka regional competition held at Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 in Blenheim.
The group went viral last year following their performance at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga. Their heart-wrenching choral item Kei Wareware i a Tātou won the inaugural Kōhine Pōnika ‘Aku Mahi’ Memorial People’s Choice Award and resonated with viewers nationally and globally, racking up millions of views across online platforms.
They returned to the regional stage today with a new choral paying homage to the legendary composer Kōhine Pōnika ending their item with the line ‘e kore e wareware’ – a nod to their award-winning viral hit from last year.
They will be joined by second place getters and longtime kapa haka veterans, Kia Ngāwari.
Founded in 1974 by Pirihira and Joseph Paora to support the revitalisation of te reo Māori in Te Tauihu, the top of the South Island, the group were regal in their black garb and kōwhaiwhai trimmed kākahu (clothing).
They wowed the crowd with a poi item that spoke of the mana of wahine and embodied the sentiment with a graceful yet lively performance that ended with all women swinging four long poi – a feat not attempted by many groups outside of Te Arawa.
The two-day event served as a regional qualifier for adult and primary school kapa haka vying for Te Matatini and Te Mana Kuratahi national competitions, respectively, and secondary school kapa haka performed for regional honours.
Road to Te Matatini 2027
Thirty-seven groups have been confirmed for Te Matatini and nine of 13 regional competitions have now been held - Te Tauihu (2), Tainui (6), Rangitāne (3), Te Taitokerau (3), Te Whenua Moemoeā (3), Te Arawa (6), Te Kāhui Maunga (4), Mātaatua (6), Tākitimu (4).
The four regional competitions left are Te Tairāwhiti in Gisborne, Tāmaki Makaurau, Waitaha in Christchurch, and Te Whanganui a Tara in Wellington.
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