Nga Uri a Maui also placed third in the poi section.
Kaiti School team Te Roopu Kapa Haka o Puhi Kaiti received a special award for Year 1-6 tamariki, the Te Aroha Rangitane trophy.
At the conclusion of the prizegiving, a special cermony was carried out where the mauri — or essence — of the festival was handed over from Tairawhiti to Waikato/Tainui, who will be the hosts of the next festival in 2019.
It was a fitting conclusion, with the festival ending the same way it began — with a mass Tairawhiti effort of the renowned East Coast haka Ruaumoko.
The ceremony brought all of the different hapu and iwi of Tairawhiti together as one people — from kaumatua, senior kapa haka leaders, judges and volunteers to schools, whanau and tamariki.
Also appropriate was that the stage area was framed with portraits of Tairawhiti haka exponents from a bygone era, the likes of Sir Apirana Ngata, Tuini Ngawai, Ngoi Pewhairangi, Te Kani Te Ua, Wiremu Kerekere and Anaru Takurua.
Chairman of Te Mana Kuratahi Jack Te Moana acknowledged Tairawhiti in hosting a kaupapa that celebrates tamariki and culture.
He acknowledged all of the children who had taken the stage and congratulated them for their efforts, their courage and their will to represent being Maori.
“Ko koutou nga rangatahi mo apopo: you are the next generation,” he said.
“Ko koutou nga kaihaka mo apopo o Te Matatini: you are the future performers of Te Matatini, the senior national kapa haka festival.”
