Te Arawa groups miss out at Te Matatini

Te Matarae I Orehu made the finals, but missed out on the top prize. Photo/Warren Buckland

Te Arawa have missed out taking home the top prize at the prestigious Te Matatini national kapa haka competition.

A record 47 teams and more than 1800 performers from New Zealand and Australia competed over the four days with about 30,000 people watching the finals live at Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings - renamed Kahungunu Park for the occasion.

Five Te Arawa groups featured in the competition - Ngati Rangiwewehi, Te Pikikotuku o Ngati Rongomai, Te Matarae I Orehu, Te Hikuwai and Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao.

Finals day of the biennial competition was held yesterday with Te Matarae I Orehu and Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao making the final nine.

But both groups missed out on first place, with Gisborne's Te Kapa Haka o Whangara Mai Tawhiti winning the title.

In the non-aggregate awards category, Te Matarae I Orehu took second place in Kakahu (costume) and first place in Te Raurana o Te Reo a-Tuhi (Maori language excellence).

Male leader Wetini Mitai-Ngatai was awarded best overall Manukura Tane - male lead.

In the aggregate category Te Matarae I Orehu received third place for their Whakaeke (entrance), Waiata a-Ringa (action song), Poi, Whakawatea (exit) and Te Kairangi o Te Mita o Te Reo (Maori language excellence).

Te Matatini life member Trevor Maxwell, who spent more than 30 years taking part in the festival, said while there was some disappointment on the part of the Te Arawa teams, it "was a great end to a beautiful festival here in Hawke's Bay".

"It's a smoke-free, alcohol-free, safe environment where everyone can go to have a good time.

"Yes, a small disappointment Te Arawa didn't feature in the prize giving, but to me they both performed beautifully.

"The judges have made their choice and congratulations to Te Kapa Haka o Mai Tawhiti who gave a superb performance in the final.

"Being up on stage during prizegiving everyone was like stunned mullets," Mr Maxwell said after Auckland's Te Waka Huia scooped all of the aggregate title trophies but did not win the overall prize.

"They need to do a better job of explaining, a clean sweep in aggregate like Te Waka Huia doesn't mean a win."

He said the aggregate awards were judged on each team's first performance, not on their finals performance,

"It all comes down to that last performance."

He said he was very proud of Mr Mitai-Ngatai for his award.

"I think I clapped loudest.

"Wetini is a strong, talented leader. His performances at this event were superb.

"He deserved it. He is a true Te Arawa leader."

The next competition will be held in Wellington in 2019.

For more photos of all Te Arawa groups in action see page 7 or go to rotoruadailypost.co.nz.

- Additional reporting Alice Guy.

Te Matatini 2017
- Winners: Gisborne's Te Kapa Haka o Whangara Mai Tawhiti
- Te Arawa finalists: Te Matarae I Orehu and Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao
- Wetini Mitai-Ngatai wins best male group leader
- Aggregate award winners: Te Waka Huia (Auckland)