Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Festive fun as hundreds compete

By Katee Shanks news@dailypost co nz
Rotorua Daily Post·
28 Mar, 2016 11:30 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Waikaremoana Whanaunakore perform. Photo / Katee Shanks

Waikaremoana Whanaunakore perform. Photo / Katee Shanks

The sleepy Eastern Bay settlement of Ruatoki played host to thousands during Easter weekend as the 42nd Hui Ahurei a Tuhoe took place.

Three days of kapa haka, sport and debate, all designed to bring iwi together and strengthen the identity of Tuhoe, culminated in a prize-giving on Sunday night where Te Karu were named overall haka winners with Ngati Haka Patuheuheu in second and Tawera Kaipuha third.

Wikamaua Hiakita and Tame Iti at Hui Ahurei a Tuhoe. Photo / Katee Shanks
Wikamaua Hiakita and Tame Iti at Hui Ahurei a Tuhoe. Photo / Katee Shanks

The first Hui Ahurei was held at Mataatua Marae in Rotorua in 1971 and since then, the event has grown to be the biggest and longest-standing iwi festival in New Zealand.

Ihaia Waiwai challenges for Waikaremoana Whanaunakore. Photo / Katee Shanks
Ihaia Waiwai challenges for Waikaremoana Whanaunakore. Photo / Katee Shanks
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It is held every two years but the last festival was held three years ago. The 2016 event was the first post-settlement for Tuhoe.

On Friday a pohiri was held at Te Rewerewa Marae to open the event. Thirteen children's haka groups performed on Friday, while the different ropu debated a number of issues including "It is right that Te Urewera have its own sovereignty", and "Tuhoe agrees that cannabis should be legalised". Rugby games were also played.

On Saturday the highly competitive senior kapa haka got under way at 8am and continued through until well after 6pm with 15 groups taking to the stage.

Tuhoe passion and pride was evident in each of the haka performances with the crowd of thousands reacting each time a point was made through word or waiata. Sunday hosted netball and prizegiving. Prizegiving was followed by performances from the Battle of the Band's winners, the Modern Maori Quartet and Ardijah.

Discover more

Options revealed for rezoned land

25 Mar 08:00 PM

Our People: Life of tending to others' needs

26 Mar 09:52 PM

Tracing back Easter's traditions

28 Mar 10:00 PM

Take time to get check on kids' car seats

29 Mar 07:55 PM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

'Brazen' gang attack: Mongrel Mob members avoid jail

08 Jul 04:31 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

BoP shooting happened at 'private dwelling', suspect still wanted

08 Jul 01:36 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

21yo defends wounding charge after alleged hit-and-run at night market

08 Jul 12:05 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

'Brazen' gang attack: Mongrel Mob members avoid jail

'Brazen' gang attack: Mongrel Mob members avoid jail

08 Jul 04:31 AM

Thirteen Mongrel Mob members attacked a rival gang at a Rotorua roundabout.

BoP shooting happened at 'private dwelling', suspect still wanted

BoP shooting happened at 'private dwelling', suspect still wanted

08 Jul 01:36 AM
21yo defends wounding charge after alleged hit-and-run at night market

21yo defends wounding charge after alleged hit-and-run at night market

08 Jul 12:05 AM
'Risk to the public': Police search for wanted man

'Risk to the public': Police search for wanted man

07 Jul 11:57 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP