Te Arawa kapa haka groups are well represented in a stage production set to show off Maori culture during the Rugby World Cup.
The production of Arohanui - The Greatest Love, blends traditional haka, martial arts, theatre, poi and musical composition.
Dan Vaka, from Ngati Rangiwewehi, is one of 11 kapa haka exponents from Te Arawa groups who are involved.
He said the training was hard and had meant travelling to Auckland every other weekend. The group's members will go to Wellington for a week before their first performance next month.
"I'm definitely out of my comfort zone with having to act but in terms of commitment and dedication it's the same as kapa haka," Mr Vaka said.
He told The Daily Post it was humbling to be involved with the 30 other kapa haka performers from around the country. Nearly 100 top kapa haka performers auditioned for the 30 roles.
Mr Vaka said he was grateful for the opportunity to be involved and thankful to organisers Te Matatini Society, host of the biennial National Maori Kapa Haka Championships and the national body for promoting Maori performing arts, as well as Aotearoa Kapa Haka.
The production is the story of twins Kahu and Mira, raised to avenge their father's death at the hands of the Patupaiarehe (fairy people). When Kahu falls in love with the Patupaiarehe princess he is forced to make the ultimate choice between his family and the love of his life.
The show will have its world premiere as part of the REAL New Zealand Festival being held with the Rugby World Cup and will be showing at The Opera House in Wellington, October 6-9.
In Auckland it will play at the Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland Girls Grammar, October 13-21.
The stage show has been described as a new evolution of powerful Maori performance, first developed 100 years ago.
Haka Theatre began 100 years ago when Princess Te Puea Herangi created a band to perform and raise funds to build the marae at Turangawaewae, Ngaruawahia, now the heart of Te Kingitanga.
Princess Te Puea's group was Te Pou o Maungatawhiri.
Te Matatini executive director Darrin Apanui said they were extremely proud Arohanui - The Greatest Love had been chosen as one of four key cultural events to represent New Zealand arts and culture to the world next month.
The creative team includes Annette Wehi (Te Waka Huia), Tanemahuta Gray (Maui One Man Against the Gods), Jim Moriarty and Helen Pearce-Otene.
Renata Curtis from kapa haka group Te Matarae i o Rehu is a choreographer with the production.