Placing first equal in the regionals and putting in more than six months of full-on practice hasn't made Ngati Rangiwewehi members complacent.
They know the competition at next month's national kapa haka showcase, Te Matatini, in Gisborne, will be harder than ever.
Ngati Rangiwewehi is one of five teams representing Te Arawa
at the competition.
The group's kaitataki tane (male leader) and tutor Dan Vaka said they had been practising since August for the big event and he was happy, but not over-confident, about how the group were placed.
"Like everyone we can't wait to get down there to represent our marae, our whanau and Te Arawa as a whole. That's what it's all about. When you are at the nationals you are representing your waka. If one Te Arawa team misses out, there are four others in support."
Other groups representing Te Arawa at Matatini are Manaia, Te Mataarae i o Rehu, Nga Uri o Te Whanoa and Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao, with four of the five Te Arawa groups performing on the last day of competition before the finals.
Ngati Rangiwewehi and Te Mataarae i o Rehu placed first equal at the Te Arawa regional competition last year.
First formed in 1968 for the opening of the wharekai (dining room) at Taremano Marae at Awahou, the group has an illustrious history in competition. They won 13 consecutive Te Arawa regional titles and national titles in 1983 and 1996.
Mr Vaka said as long as the group did its best on the day he and kaitataki wahine (female leader) and co-tutor Deana Bidois would be proud.
"We're going to hit that stage loud and proud and in full force," he said.
"We've put in six months of planning and practice and hope to be one of the lucky ones to make the finals."
