Defending champions Waihīrere have taken out Tamararo, the Tairāwhiti regional kapa haka competition held in Gisborne.
Established in 1952, Waihīrere is one of the oldest groups in the competitive haka scene.
Their performance today included the fast-paced, beat-laden poi, Takitimu. Named for the ancestral waka, the poi was first performed by the group in 1972, the year they won the inaugural national kapa haka competition, and revived for Te Matatini 2015 in Christchurch.
Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti placed second despite coming first in all aggregate categories.
Their excellent performance drew a strong response from the audience. At the end of their stand, the crowd broke out in a mass performance of the iwi anthem, Paikea.
The group also presented a new trophy in memory of highly respected kaumātua and educator Taina Ngarimu who died in December. An emotional handover presentation took place following their performance.
Te Hokowhitu a Tū and Hikurangi secured the final two qualifying spots to advance on to the national competition to be held in 2027 at Ngāruwāhia, in Waikato.
From five to four qualifying spots
Seventeen groups took part in the two-day event. During prize giving Tamararo board member David Jones announced that only four qualifying spots were available – instead of the initial five as per the ratio rule – due to the failure to meet Te Matatini requirements.
"These are the rules that are required and we didn’t make that standard this year – we just missed out – but heoi anō there’s more work for us to do as a rohe," he said.
Marking its 74th year, Tamararo is the longest-running regional kapa haka event in the country.
Results
1 Waihīrere
2 Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti
3 Te Hokowhitu a Tū
4 Hikurangi
AGGREGATE
Whakaeke/Whakawātea
1st eq
-Te Hokowhitu a Tū
-Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti
Mōteatea
Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti
Poi
Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti
Waiata ā ringa
Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti
Haka
Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti
Mita o Te Reo
1st eq.
-Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti
-Te Hokowhitu a Tū
-Hikurangi
NON-AGGREGATE
Waiata Tira
Te Hokowhitu a Tū
Kākahu
1st eq.
-Hikurangi
-Waihīrere
Himene
Ngāti Konohi Hau Kaenga
Kaitataki Tāne
1st eq.
-Tū Te Manawa Maurea
-Te Hokowhitu a Tū
-Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti
Kaitataki Wahine
Te Hokowhitu a Tū
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