Te reo revival celebrated
A ro¯pu¯ [team] from Ta¯makiMakaurau Auckland has taken out the competition at Te Matatini, and will take home the top prize as the new Toa Whakahuwaka.
Nga¯ Tu¯ manako were awarded the Nga¯po¯ and Pimia Wehi Duncan McIntyre Trophy, with a performance that centred on the revitalisation of te reo Ma¯ ori.
Wet weather couldn’t dampen the finals competition at Te Matatini on Sunday, which was described as ‘‘fiercely fought’’ by organisers.
The kapa haka competition, which took place at Westpac Stadium in Wellington over four days, was notable this year for new arrivals to the finals stage, as well as the absence of past champions.
The first-time winners Nga¯ Tu¯ manako took out 46 other teams to take the title.
That included Te Waka Huia, which, despite being five-time winners, did not make the finals this year despite a moving performance about suicide.
The upper North Island dominated places in the finals, with three teams from Te Arawa Bay of Plenty and three from the Waikato making up six of the nine teams in the finals.
Second place getters Te Piki Ko¯tuku o Nga¯ti Rongomai from Te Arawa were first time finalists, and impressed with their quick taiaha movements and strong singing.
Third place went to Te Wha¯ nau-a¯ -Apanui from Mataatua, who sang about the Ringatu¯ faith and its tribal connections.
This year’s winners will have a homeground advantage at the next competition, with Te Matatini heading to Auckland where the biennial event will be held at Eden Park in 2021.
Finalists:
❚ 1st: Nga¯ Tu¯ manako
❚ 2nd: Te Piki Ko¯ tuku o Nga¯ ti Rongomai
❚ 3rd: Te Kapa Haka o Te Wha¯ nau a Apanui
❚ Runners up: Te Ma¯ ta¯ rae I O¯ rehu, Mo¯tai Tangata Rau, Tu¯hourangi Nga¯ti Wa¯hiao, Te Pou o Mangata¯whiri, Wha¯nga¯ra¯ Mai Tawhiti, Te Iti Kahurangi.