Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue from Te Arawa have been named champions of Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025.
Ngāti Rangiwewehi, also from Te Arawa, and Ngā Tūmanako of Tāmaki Makaurau have been named second and third, respectively.
Watch Te Matatini finals performances on TVNZ+
The Kohine Ponika ‘Aku Mahi’ Memorial Trophy for the new People’s Choice Award has been awarded to Te Kuru Marutea (Te Tauihu) for their waiata tira.
The announcement comes at the end of a brutal five-day kapa haka competition that saw 55 groups split into four pools and whittled down to a top 12.
Fifty judges were given the task of deciding the top kapa haka in a fiercely competitive field.
Manukura feedback on judges’ marks
The judges attracted both negative and positive feedback from kapa today.
In a post-performance interview, Mōtai Tangata Rau manukura Paraone Gloyne, a former judge at Te Matatini 2023, addressed some of his concerns over the marking this year.
“Tēnā whakawāngia tā koutou e kite nei kaua ko tā koutou e hiahia nei ki te kite. Ko ētahi o ngā hiahia o ngā kaiwhakawā tē taea e tētahi kapa ahakoa ka tū i te mutunga o te rā – rorirori.”
(Judge what you see, not what you want to see. Some of what the judges want isn’t possible for a kapa to implement, even if they were to stand at the end of the day – ridiculous)
He added that groups have been hard at it for months and to lose a point because of a minor mistake was disappointing.
“Ko tātou tātou e kōrero nei i ngā kōrero i runga i te whakaiti me te aroha, me te mōhio me te mārama.”
(This is just us bringing it up for discussion with humility and love, knowledge and understanding.)
On the other hand, during their finals performance, Tuhourangi Ngāti Wahiao Manukura Tiahuia Ropitini delivered a pao of acknowledgement to some of the judges who favoured their poi in the preliminaries, revealing that they were given full marks for the item.
Finals makeup
In one of the most closely fought competitions, Te Mātangirua finals day featured an incredible array of different styles and flavours of haka from five regions across Aotearoa.
The breadth and depth of Te Arawa’s distinct haka style showed in the performances by Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue, Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai, and Ngāti Rangiwewehi.
The inseparable Tāmaki Makaurau first equal champions and Te Haumi top three, Ngā Tumanako, Angitu and Te Waka Huia represented an urban perspective unique to their region.
Te Taumata o Apanui and Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui both showcased the prowess of their shared iwi of the same name.
Rounded out by the formidable Tainui Mōtai Tangata Rau and Te Pou o Mangataawhiri and Te Tairāwhiti kapa haka Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti.
Host for Te Matatini 2027 up in the air
Sir Selwyn Parata, chairperson of Te Matatini, has revealed the location for the next Te Matatini Festival is still under discussion.
Due to the expansion of the competition – this year saw a record 55 groups qualify – they are reconsidering their options.
In 2008, Te Matatini announced the list of future events and Te Tauihu was set to host next in 2027, but the festival has outgrown itself, said Sir Selwyn.
“Nā reira ko Te Matatini kei te wānanga i roto I nga marama e toru nei, kei te wananga I roto I o tātou rohe, ko te timatatanga o ngā wānanga hei te hui apōpō.”
(So Te Matatini will hold discussion in the next three months, discussions will also take place in our regions, and our first hui will take place tomorrow).
Discussion will take place around the motu on the matter.