The kura is awaiting confirmation from the Ministry of Education to build its new premises.
Principal and co-tutor of the school's kapa haka, Tukiterangi Curtis, said they did not practice kapa haka at the school.
"The only time we do that is in those 10 days in the year."
The first hour-and-a-half of every school day for all children is spent in a wananga where the children learn about being Ngati Rongomai, the history of the waiata they sing, the history of the authors and their tupuna (ancestors).
Mr Curtis said the win, which followed an overall win at the regional competition in 2012, third place in the nationals in 2013 and making the top nine at the nationals in 2015, showed the kura was achieving results. He said he hoped the Ministry of Education would not take too long to sign off on their new premises.
Mr Curtis said the kura was a special character school.
"We are a private school from the one family ... We have got a strong belief in our culture. We get intricate with it and decipher all the information so that children are learning their connection to Ngati Rongomai and the whole of Te Arawa and their tupuna.
"The main concept of wananga is teaching the values of Maori lore that we can adopt from karakia, storytelling, whakapapa and genealogy.
"When we do kapa haka for that 45 minutes in the lunch break they know we have high expectations and they know what they are doing from the wananga."
Mr Curtis said most of the 39 members of the group were from the junior school.
"They are up against schools with Year 7 and 8 kids and a majority of ours are juniors, only about a quarter are intermediate age."
The event's organising committee chairman Rawiri Wihapi said the standard of kapa haka was the best he had seen for years and that was due to the standard of the tutors.
Te Wharekura o Ngati Rongomai is no exception with Mr Curtis a familiar face on the senior kapa haka stage and current head tutor of Te Pikikotuku o Ngati Rongomai.
Co-tutor Deana Rika also has an impressive background in kapa haka being a former tutor and leader of Ngati Rangiwewehi. Her skills are such she will be a judge at Te Matatini, the nationals for the adults kapa haka event, in Hastings next year.
"Kapa haka is a way of life for a lot of these children," Mrs Rika said.
"When they come to Te Wharekura o Ngati Rongomai they have affiliations to this particular iwi. Everything they learn is pertaining to themselves. Kapa haka just becomes another part of their learning."
She said while it was fantastic to win, it was not the main goal, it was more about standing together.
"They are always acknowledging the past and what their ancestors have laid before them and knowing where they want to head in the future."
She said the win was emotional and she admitted to shedding a few tears when the results came out.
"I have three of my sons performing. I was absolutely stoked. I see them reap the benefits and get acknowledgement for what they learn, it adds satisfaction to not only their learning but their personal lives as well."
The Rotorua Daily Post asked members of the group about their win, and each student answered in fluent te reo Maori (with their teacher translating in English).
Tatiahna Hohepa, 11, said she was excited when they heard their names called out as winners.
Ngatuire Hapi, 13, said she was proud of the win because they were following in their ancestors' footsteps.
Hiko Curtis, 13, who is the male leader of the group, said kapa haka brought out the best in everyone and it was particularly special for them because they knew where their roots were.
The kura will represent Te Arawa at next year's nationals in Hastings alongside the other top five placegetters, Rotorua Primary School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata, Te Kura o Te Koutu and Rotorua Intermediate.
Te Arawa Primary Schools Kapa Haka Top 5
1st Te Wharekura o Ngati Rongomai
2nd Rotorua Primary School
3rd Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata
4th Te Kura o Te Koutu
5th Rotorua Intermediate School
