Te Whenua Moemoeā to send three rōpū to Te Matatini 2025
It was a haka festive weekend for Te Whenua Moemoeā, with nine teams taking the haka stage over at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.
As a result, three rōpu have qualified for Te Matatini ki Te Kāhui Maunga.
Manawa Mai Tawhiti reclaimed the winning title for Australia’s top haka group and would be making a return to Te Matatini next year for the first time since 2019 after pulling out of the competition in 2023.
Newcomers Te Kapa Haka o Te Hau Tawhiti and Te Atawhai Puumanawa would be joining them to Taranaki for the national competition.
He kākano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiātea
Thousands of Māori have made Australia their home and some of them haven’t been to New Zealand — let alone their own marae.
One major theme for this year’s competition was uplifting and using kapa haka to stay connected to their culture.
This was a mission for newcomers Te Atawhai Puumanawa, to create a rōpū for Māori living Victoria to reconnect with te reo Māori and tikanga Māori while also respecting the land of the indigenous people of Australia.
Te Atawhai Puumanawa tutor Aiden Jensen-Mahi said: “Yes, we are visitors of this land, however, if we keep that whakaaro and we take out some of the key components like wero, those items become lost, so I think for us it’s about acknowledging them as well as carrying out our mahi.”
Rangitāne send through four kapa to Te Matatini
Fourteen kapa haka took the regional stage in Rangitāne at the weekend in Te Papaioea. (Palmerston North)
Each rōpū brought their own unique styles and stories to the papatūwaewae about the current political issues affecting Māori and paid tribute to many passed loved ones, including the beloved kapa haka exponent Rongomai Taiapa-Aporo.
Te Tū Mataora once again took out the regional competition, starting off their bracket with an emotional waiata tira, dedicated to past ones. The group also claimed the top spot, alongside other kapa, for all aggregate items and most non-aggregate.
Te Tini o Rēhua, Te Ringa Kaha and Te Whirikōkō o Rangitāne would be joining them to Te Matatini in 2025.
A significant increase for local kapa haka numbers
Over the past decade the region has seen a significant increase of kapa haka, from five to 14.
Speaking to Stuff, Te Matatini Rangitāne delegate, Chris Whaiapu said the significant increase was proof of the hard work and commitment of the Rangitāne committee to preserve and promote te ao Māori.
“It’s been a build-up and a strategy that the committee wanted to focus on for the last 10 years. It’s humbling that the region has responded in such a positive way to support the kaupapa.”
Kapa heading to Te Matatini 2025:
Te Whenua Moemoeā
1. Manawa Mai Tawhiti
2. Te Kapa Haka o Te Hau Tawhiti
3. Te Atawhai Puumanawa
Rangitane
1. Te Tū Mataora
2. Te Tini o Rēhua
3. Ngā Whirikōkō o Rangitāne
4. Te Ringa Kaha