The Rotorua Daily Post continues its series profiling the three haka groups representing Te Arawa and Tuwharetoa at next year's Secondary Schools' National Kapa Haka Competition.
They may be the only Te Arawa group to have won the secondary school national kapa haka title but Te Roopu Manaaki doesn't let that sort of pressure get to them.
The group from Western Heights High School are tutored by Taumata Soloman and Dan Vaka, who both have performed at the highest levels of kapa haka, Mr Soloman for Te Mataarae i o Rehu and Mr Vaka as the leader of Ngati Rangiwewehi.
The name Te Roopu Manaaki translates to mean the group who cares - and when it comes to the stage, Mr Vaka said winning was the furthest thing from the students' minds.
"It's not about the competition, it's about who you are; being proud of who you are as a Maori and proud of your iwi and also in doing that you perform for your family and for all those who you love."
The group were second at this year's regional competition behind Raukura from Rotorua Boys' High School and Rotorua Girls' High School and ahead of Te Iti Rearea from Rotorua Lakes High School and Te Whare Kura o Ngati Rongomai.
All three will represent the regions of Te Arawa and Tuwharetoa in next year's nationals in Gisborne.
Mr Vaka said the region had a proud history when it came to kapa haka and his group was looking to maintain that history.
"Our goal [at the regionals] was to make the top three and anything past that was a bonus. We've achieved our goal and we're ecstatic about that.
"We are just trying to maintain a Maori focus by performing for our people, our families and maintaining our pride of who we are."
The group will head to the nationals knowing they were first equal with Raukura in the poi, haka and whakawatea as well as winning best waiata hou.
When it comes to leadership the group has plenty to offer with Te Rangimonoa Rangihau being selected third best kaitataki tane (male leader) and Mr Vaka's daughter Puahaere Vaka selected second-best kaitataki wahine (female leader) by the judges.
Mr Vaka said his daughter handled the pressure of leading a great group like Te Roopu Manaaki.
"Kapa haka is in our [family] blood, both my wife and I were born and bred with it. So we bring our family up around it too.
"She [Puahaere] did feel a bit of pressure but nothing she couldn't handle. I wouldn't have put her in that position if I didn't think she was ready for it and I think she handled it fantastically."
Along with his daughter, Mr Vaka said he was proud of the way the group performed at the regionals.
"I just couldn't believe the standard that they lifted themselves to and both Taumata and myself - we elaborated on that to the group.
"It didn't matter what the results were at the end of the day.
"We were always going to be proud of them because of what they've already achieved and the journey that they've come through."
Although the dates for next year's nationals are yet to be confirmed, it is understood it will be either late July or early August.