Te Arawa kapa haka: full report | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao took inspiration from their ancestors for their winning performance at the Te Arawa Regional Kapa Haka Competition.

The group swept aside the competition  on Saturday night, winning five of the six aggregate sections _ whakaeke (entry), waiata moteatea, waiata-a-ringa (action song), poi, haka and whakamutunga (exit).

The group and five others will represent Te Arawa at next year's Te Matatini national kapa haka festival in Rotorua.

Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao spokesman John Turi said it was an honour to win.

 "We were competing with the giants. We are obviously delighted.''

The champions, who did not want to be filmed or photographed so as not to give anything away ahead of next year's nationals, gave a more traditional performance than is often seen nowadays.

Mr Turi said they took their inspiration from their ancestors.

"We looked at the archives and brought some of the old ideas back. We focused on simplicity and getting our message across.''

He said the group's strength was their singing. Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao are also renowned for their waiata-a-ringa (action songs) and entertaining visitors and tourists.

"We want it to be and fun and entertaining for our audience.''
 

Mr Turi said they incorporated the overall theme of the competition, kia piki te ora: realising the potential of rangatahi (youth).

"It's important to know who you are, to know your identity and to be able to carry on a legacy.''

Mr Turi said it was really lovely to have such a large number of groups competing, which allowed six teams to go through to the Te Matatini National competition hosted by Te Arawa next year.

"It is important that Te Arawa is strong because we're hosting Te Matatini.''

Mr Turi said some of the new groups stepped up, including Nga Potiki o Hinehopu, who placed sixth and also are eligible to compete at the nationals.

The competition at Rotorua's Energy Events Centre was sold out and the full house saw 22 Te Arawa teams compete over two days. The eight pakeke (elder) groups performed on Friday night.

Chairman of the national committee of Te Matatini Selwyn Parata said it was fantastic to see the support of the pakeke.

"It was beautiful to see grandparents and even great-grandparents competing. The inter-generational aspect of our art form is so important.''

Mr Parata, of Ngati Porou and Ngai Tahu descent, said kapa haka was evolving dramatically so it was good to see the pakeke expressing some of the more traditional aspects of haka.

He said the competition was of a high standard and it was obvious groups had put a huge amount of effort into the competition.

"As a result we've had some amazing performances.''

Executive director of Te Matatini Darrin Apanui said over 40 years kapa haka as an expression of Maori culture had
developed into a powerful art form.  It was centre stage at the World Cup and Mr Apanui said many global opportunities  were becoming available.

Tainui also held its kapa haka competition on Saturday. Te Iti Kahurangi placed first, followed by Nga Pou o Roto and Te Pou o Mangataawhiri.

All three will compete at Te Matatini 2013, being held in Rotorua next February.

Te Arawa regional results:

1st: Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao

2nd: Te Mataarae i Orehu

3rd: Nga Uri o Te Whanoa

4th: Kataore

5th: Manaia

6th: Nga Potiki a Hinehopu

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Aggregate Section Awards:

Te Kaitaataki Tane:  Nga Potiki a Hinehopu 1,  Te Mataarae i Orehu 2, Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao 3.

Te Kaitaataki Wahine, Taini Morrison Memorial Trophy:  Te Matarae i Orehu 1,  Nga Potiki a Hinehopu 2,  Kataore 3.

Whakaeke:  Ngati Rangiwewehi and Kataore 1st equal,  Nga Potiki a Hinehopu 3.

Moteatea:  Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao 1,  Kataore 2,  Te Hikuwai and Mataarae 3rd equal.

Waiata a ringa:  Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao 1,  Mataarae 2,  Nga Uri o Te Whanoa 3.

Poi:  Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao 1,  Ngati Rangiwewehi 2,  Nga Potiki a Hinehopu 3.