Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai takes out Te Arawa Primary Schools Regional Kapa Haka

Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai with their winning performance. Photo / Supplied by Kathy Pahl

Whether they had their eyes shut clutching their hearts singing to the heavens, or thumping their hands on their chests in a fierce haka, Te Arawa's children have done their whānau and ancestors proud.

Barely a dry eye was in the Rotorua Energy Events Centre today as hundreds of children took the stage for Te Arawa Primary Schools Regional Kapa Haka 2022.

While it was a showcase of some of the best Māori cultural performances from children aged between 5 and 13, there was also intense competition.

The top four schools out of 13 were named to represent Te Arawa at the national competition in Nelson next year.

Winning the competition was Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai, second was Te Kura o Te Koutu, third was Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata and fourth went to Ngā Kura Māori o Tūwharetoa.

Te Kura o Te Koutu were named second overall. Photo / Supplied by Kathy Pahl

The competition started at 9am and the 13 groups rolled through until 5pm performing before 19 judges.

Each school had up to 25 minutes to perform six or seven items, including a choral song (optional), whakaeke (entrance song), waiata tawhito (traditional chant), waiata-a-ringa (action song), poi, haka and whakawātea (exit song).

Head judge Waata Cribb said the best part of today was watching kapa haka again after most events were cancelled because of the Covid pandemic in the past two years.

Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai's wahine performers. Photo / Supplied by Kathy Pahl

"The most beautiful part of being here today is seeing our kids in their kākahu on stage and being that much closer with their tupuna. Also the reo, the Māori language, it's awesome to see our young ones growing in that space."

Cribb said kapa haka provided big opportunities and it was a worthy path for young ones to consider.

"We have just had one of our groups from Rotorua, Te Mātārae I Orehu, return from performing in Italy. So there are many opportunities to experience the world through kapa haka."

He said it was also heartwarming seeing the kuia and koroua watching their mokopuna perform again.

Whetumatarau Pewhairangi leads his Te Kura o Te Koutu group. Photo / Supplied by Kathy Pahl

Full results:

Non-aggregate:
Waiata tira (choral):
Third: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata
Second: Te Kura o Te Koutu
First: Rotorua Intermediate

Kaitātaki tane (male leader):
Second equal: Ngā Kura Māori o Tūwharetoa
Second equal: Te Kura o Te Koutu
Second equal: Rotorua Intermediate
Second equal: Te Matai Te Kura o Iwi o Tapuika
First: Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai

Kaitātaki wahine (female leader):
Third: Rotorua Intermediate
First equal: Te Matai Te Kura o Iwi o Tapuika
First equal: Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai

Kākahu (costume):
Third: Ngā Kura Māori o Tūwharetoa
First equal: Te Kura o Te Koutu
First equal: Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai

Aggregate
Whakaeke (entrance song):
Second equal: Ngā Kura Māori o Tūwharetoa
Second equal: Te Kura o Te Koutu
First: Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai

Waiata tawhito (traditional chant):
Second equal: Te Matai Te Kura o Iwi o Tapuika
Second equal: Ngā Kura Māori o Tūwharetoa
First: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata

Waiata-a-ringa (action song):
Second equal: Rotorua Intermediate
Second equal: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata
First: Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai

Poi:
Third equal: Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai
Third equal: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata
First equal: Rotorua Intermediate
First equal: Te Kura o Te Koutu

Haka:
Third: Rotorua Intermediate
Second: Ngā Kura Māori o Tūwharetoa
First: Te Kura o Te Koutu

Whakawātea (exit song):
Second equal: Rotorua Intermediate
Second equal: Te Kura o Te Koutu
Second equal: Kaitao Intermediate
First: Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai

Te Reo:
Second equal: Ngā Kura Māori o Tūwharetoa
Second equal: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata
Second equal: Te Kura o Te Koutu
First: Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai

Overall:
Fourth: Ngā Kura Māori o Tūwharetoa
Third: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata
Second: Te Kura o Te Koutu
First: Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai

Mairatea Raharuhi was named first equal for kaitātaki wahine (female leader) for her group Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai. Photo / Supplied by Kathy Pahl