Whangarei accommodation providers are bursting at the seams with big groups of kapa haka competitors and their supporters filling beds during the usually quiet winter period.
Nga Kura Tuarua 2012, the National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka competition, being held at Kensington Stadium this week has attracted 1800 competitors and anequal, if not greater, number of supporters.
The teams have filled every "motel and hotel and marae from Ruakaka to Kaikohe", competition organisers said.
Whangarei Motel Association representative Brem Butcher said the influx of kapa haka competitors had certainly helped the local motels and associated businesses.
"It's fantastic, a competition like this to fill up the motels."
Mr Butcher was hosting a group of 80 people from Gisborne at his Sierra Motel on Western Hills Drive.
He said the team mostly catered for themselves. "I know they eat out a least one night so it's for for the whole town, not just the motels."
Kevin Lloyd, owner of the Top 10 Holiday Park, said he was hosting "one of the biggest groups we've ever had here" - a group of 75 from Waitara near New Plymouth.
"I would have to say they're one of the best groups we've ever had, highly organised and well behaved. They were outside practising last night and just hearing them singing in the twilight environment, it was just spine tingling."
The group was catering for themselves, with mums, dads and elders working in the park's kitchen throughout the day to prepare meals, Mr Lloyd said.
For more images from Nga Kura Tuarua 2012 see page seven today and check out the photo gallery on www.northernadvocate.co.nz
