Wairoa dominates Ngati Kahungunu Regional Kapa Haka Competition

Te Rerenga Kōtuku claimed first place at the Ngati Kahungunu Regional Kapa Haka Competition. Photo / Supplied

Wairoa was the true star of the Ngati Kahungunu Regional Kapa Haka Competition held at the weekend.

As well as hosting the prestigious event, the township dominated the competition, and will send two teams to compete in Te Matatini for the first time in Wellington next year.

Te Rerenga Kotuku of Wairoa claimed first place, Te Rangiura o Wairarapa of Wairarapa was second, Matangirau of Wairoa third and Ngati Ranginui of Tauranga fourth.

Te Rerenga Kotuku co-founder and tutor Sheree Spooner said the group's eighth consecutive win could be put down to hard work.

The small team of 29, depleted in numbers after the inception of a second group in Wairoa, had been in training since the last year's Te Matatini, she said.

"The team had to work double hard to make up for the numbers we had lost but at the end of the day it wasn't about quantity it was about the quality of what we were going to deliver on the stage."

Big sacrifices had been made for the competition but seeing the team unite on their home turf for the first time in 15 years was worthwhile, Spooner said.

"It was nice to do it in front of a packed house and to share it with Wairoa. I think it opened their eyes up to how big the festival has become and for us to share the moment with our home people was amazing."

The tutor founded the group with her late husband Elliot Spooner 26 years ago and said she was pleased she could continue the kapa haka "lifestyle", even after his death.

"I think it's just seeing our families in a really positive space and seeing all the families come together to support the performing team. Our mothers, aunties, uncles, children and partners - they all play a pivotal role in the success of the team."

"My husband and I started the team but he passed away in 2015. It's been amazing for me to be able to continue his legacy."

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little and Wairoa Deputy Mayor Denise Eaglesome-Karekare thought the judges would have had a hard time picking the winner.

"It would have been a hard job to judge because they were all top-class acts. It was just awesome.

"There would be a few people in the district that didn't go but when they hear what was happening they will be disappointed because it was a really great day," Little said.

Eaglesome-Karekare said she was "absolutely stoked" the town produced two national finalists.

"There were a number of groups that were absolutely brilliant and I know it would have been hard for the judges to come up with the top four but they did, and they did it well.

"I actually concur with their top four. They were the ones that I myself thought were very professional so you could see the hard work every group put into their performance."

Crown/Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis made an appearance at the tail end of the event, while travelling between Gisborne and Hastings for hui being held to improve the relationship between Maori and the Crown.

Ms Eaglesome-Karekare said it was a great event for local businesses who took advantage of the thousands of people in town for the event.

"Economically, I believe it actually did us a great deal of good so I'm thrilled and it just proves to show that Wairoa is able to host these sorts of events."

Spooner said she wanted to acknowledge each of the teams that competed on Saturday and said the next challenge for Te Rerenga Kotuku would be to place in the upper bracket of groups at Te Matatini 2019.