Outstanding results at the national kapa haka championships could spark even greater interest in a performing arts programme that has engaged hundreds of Maori students.
The Te Matatini 2013 winning team and runners-up were led by lecturers who share their expertise with students of the Bachelor of Maori Performing Arts (BMPA) at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi.
Awanuiarangi chief executive officer and vice-chancellor Professor Hingangaroa Smith said they were delighted their staff and more than 400 BMPA graduates and students were engaging in traditional performing arts at the highest levels, reinforcing the legitimacy of iwi knowledge, celebrating te reo Maori and driving cultural excellence.
"All our BMPA tutors and several other staff were competitors; others had offstage roles. But we are particularly proud that more than a quarter of the competitors at Te Matatini 2013 are graduates or current students of our three-year degree programme."
This success would encourage more young Maori to engage in higher education and the wananga was even fielding inquiries from Maori living in Australia.
"We thank Te Matatini Society and hosts Te Arawa for providing the opportunity for these talented performers to stand up as cultural leaders. They will inspire the next generation to achieve excellence and ensure Maori performing arts are fostered for generations to come."
The biennial event saw 41 kapa haka groups competing in Rotorua for the title of national champion. Te Waka Huia, led by Awanuiarangi lecturers Tapeta and Annette Wehi, took top honours for the fifth time. Runners-up were Te Whanau a Apanui - co-led by BMPA programme co-ordinator Rob Ruha, with academic adviser and senior lecturer Tamati Waaka as kaitataki tane (male leader).
And BMPA graduate Kingi Kiriona led Te Iti Kahurangi, the Waikato group sharing third place with Tu Te Manawa Maurea and Whangara Mai Tawhiti. The group won five trophies for language excellence, best entrance, traditional chant, action song and female leader (Tiare Kata Teinakore).
More than 20 of the groups competing included graduates or current students of the BMPA.
Awanuiarangi launched the BMPA three years ago and, last year, had 715 performing arts students enrolled from Kaitaia to Christchurch. A total of 36 haka teams are enrolled in the programme this year.
The director of Awanuiarangi's new National Institute of Maori and Indigenous Performing Arts, Te Tumu Ihorangi Donna Grant, led her whanau group Nga Uri o Te Whanoa to the finals. She said the competition allowed Maori to celebrate being Maori.
"It's about cultural strength - making sure the inner Maori is nurtured, cared for, told the appropriate stories and celebrated on the atamira (stage). Every group has had a journey to get here and I think the journey is more important than the actual performance. The performance is the icing on the cake."
Behind the scenes, more than 150 students from the tourism programme Hei Manaaki provided support at Te Matatini, gaining valuable industry experience. The tourism students took on a range of roles including ushering, VIP support, marshalling and participating in the haka powhiri.