Jasmine Waerea performs at the tournament pōwhiri. Photo / Annie Hawaikirangi
The weather had been mostly fine, until 6mm of rain fell between 6am and 12pm on Saturday.
Māori Tennis president Dick Garratt said the hotly contested finals went ahead because of the tournament kaupapa, "to put aside trials and tribulations and have fun on the courts".
He said he was "very pleased" with the event in Rotorua this year, a city he described as a "stronghold for Māori".
Nicole Douglas performs at the tournament pōwhiri. Photo / Annie Hawaikirangi
Garratt and the organising committees had been preparing since June.
The tournament was founded in Rotorua in 1926, by Sir Apirana Ngata and his friends Taipōrutu Mitchell, Pei Te Hurinui Jones and Tukere Te Anga.
It is now one of the longest established Māori sports events in the country.
"The wairua of the tournament goes back to the founders, who wanted our people to care for their hauora. The sporting aspect, the spiritual, social, it's all present here," Garratt said.
Rotorua hadn't hosted the tournament for 23 years, until last week.
Men's doubles finalists from left, Jesse Galvin, Logan Nathan, Shaun Tamai and Shannon Paki with his daughters Fern and Indie. Photo / Annie Hawaikirangi
In the past few years, it has drawn 125-150, but organisers are keen to boost numbers next year when Rotorua will host the tournament again.
This year's top seed was 37-year-old Rotorua player Shaun Tamai.
