The organiser of Hawke’s Bay’s Te Kahu o Te Amorangi kapa haka regional competition says the thousands who braved the rain to watch it in Waipukurau made the event a success.

Ngāti Kahungunu is the first iwi to host its annual competition out of the 13 New Zealand-wide regional competitions in the lead-up to Te Matatini.

Four groups from the event qualified and will represent Kahungunu at Te Matatini. They were Te Rangiura o Wairarapa, who placed first, Te Kapa Haka o Kahungunu, who came in second, Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Ranginui in third and Matangirau fourth.

Event organiser Te Rangimarie Ngarotata said she wanted to make the show the best, for performers and spectators alike.

Te Rangiura o Wairarapa, who placed first at Te Kahu o Te Amorangi kapa haka regional competition held in Waipukurau, and will go on to perform at Te Matatini 2027. Photo / Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

Ngarotata said she was surprised at the dedication of those attending, with some even sitting in the mud at the packed-out Russell Park.

“It rained, it poured, it was pretty wet, but lots of people still showed up, considering the wet weather we had.

“It was beautiful, it was amazing, it was inspiring.”

Ngarotata said they had yet to get a final tally of how many people had attended but anticipated it would be in the thousands.

People turned out in the thousands despite the wet weather for Te Kahu o Te Amorangi kapa haka regional competition held in Waipukurau on February 13 and 14. Photo / Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

She said she especially wanted to thank those kai mahi and volunteers who helped out.

“I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for pulling off a successful event ... They pulled up and showed out and did an amazing job”

Event organiser Te Rangimarie Ngarotata said there was a great atmosphere at the event. Photo / Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated

“The VIP and kaumatua tent was sheltered, and the tamariki tent was successful ... and they had shelter for all of our tamariki and a couch for our breastfeeding mama.

“Everyone just worked around the weather.”

Ngarotata said she had reports during the day that the town was full of people.

“Ruataniwha St was full of life, all of the shops were full, so that was good to hear during the chaos.”

Ngarotata said they even received a surprise visit from Te Matatini chairman Selwyn Parata.

“Had we known, I think we would have definitely prepared better for him, but he showed up unannounced so that he could experience it first hand as just a normal person.”

Onlookers watched on as 13 kapa competed for four qualifying spots at Te Matatini 2027. Photo / Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

Parata said the event had set the standard for the other competitions to follow.

“They did what they needed to do, which was shake themselves up, in their own culture and in their own traditions, and everything that was expounded was about the historical relationships between the Ngāti Kahungunu.”

He said he could really appreciate the different generations interacting.

“I enjoyed watching the enthusiasm of the young people who were on the stage and also in the crowd, loving every aspect of their culture ... even though it was raining.

Parata said the word kotahitanga (unity) was one often used across New Zealand, and he saw this play out at the event.

“That was practised in Waipukurau at the weekend, the unification of all the people in the Hawke’s Bay, not only Ngāti Kahungunu, there were pakeha people there, Chinese, Indians. There were people of other ethnicities there enjoying the atmosphere.”

He said one of his highlights was the performance from a group that did not qualify.

“I enjoyed Tamatea Arikinui ... highlight for me was the new generation of Tamatea Arikinui that performed.”

Central Hawke’s Bay Mayor Will Foley said everyone was fully immersed in the displays on stage, Māori culture and heritage.

“It was a cool event. Notwithstanding bias, Tamatea was my favourite group of the day.”

Foley said he was lucky enough to have Brian Morris, a local iwi rangatira, sit next to him to explain the messaging of the performances.

“You could tell the performers were very professional and had put huge efforts into preparing for the day. Likewise, the organisers had done so much to prepare and hold a very successful event.”

Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.