Rangatahi from Maketū to Tongariro will showcase pride in their culture this Friday as the Te Arawa Kapa Haka Tuarua ā Rohe goes ahead at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre.

Rie Morris, chairwoman of the organising committee, Te Arawa Pouako i te Reo, said the competition would be comprised of 10 kapa that would take to the stage throughout the day.

Te Arawa Pouako i te Reo is made up of representatives from schools and wharekura from within the rohe.

"Of the 10 kapa, one comes from Taupō and one from Turangi," Morris said.

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Each will perform for 30 minutes in the hope of qualifying as one of the top four that will then go on to the national secondary schools' event in Auckland next year.

"Although placing in the top four is one of the driving forces of the event, it is not the sole one.

"It's about pride in being Māori, and being Te Arawa, pride in having such a rich culture and all of the tikanga and kawa associated with that."

Morris said most of the students would have started practising for the regional event around the Easter break.

"That's three months of practice with some very intense weekends."

She said members of Te Arawa Pouako i te Reo, whānau and friends were very much looking forward to seeing the rangatahi on stage.

"The students are proud to be representing their iwi, their hapū and, in particular, their schools. They are also proud to be bringing everyone together for the event."

Te Arawa Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua ā Rohe 2019
Rotorua Energy Events Centre - Programme for the day
8am – Doors open for the general public
8.40am – Mihi/Whakatau/Karakia
9am – Kapa 1: Te Rōpū Manaaki – Western Heights High School
9.40am – Kapa 2: Ngā Kōhine – Rotorua Girls High School
10.20am – Kapa 3: Te Kura o Te Koutu
11am – Kapa 4: Te Manu Tāiko – Rotorua Lakes High School
11.40am – Kapa 5: Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai
12.20 – 1.20pm Lunch break, arena cleared
1.30pm – Kapa 6: Ngā Kura ā-iwi o Tūwharetoa
2.10pm – Kapa 7: Te Aitanga ā-Tāne – Rotorua Boys' High School
2.50pm – Kapa 8: Raukura
3.30pm – Kapa 9 – Te Āwhiorangi – Taupō-nui-ā-Tia College
4.10pm Kapa 10: NgāKura Kaupapa Māori o Te Puku o te Ika
5.30pm - Prizegiving