Straight after Te Matarae i Orehu's performance, leader Wetini Mitai-Ngatai told the Rotorua Daily Post his group had come off stage feeling satisfied.
"We have been training for three months, giving up 12 hours every weekend, the group feel good about the performance. We are all wanting to get into the final five, it's always a challenge every year."
Te Matarae i Orehu were the reigning champions and took out the title yet again, their female leader Miri Morrison-Hare told the Rotorua Daily Post straight after winning that it was all very overwhelming.
"We are just really grateful to be a part of it. We feel good about our performance."
She said we could expect a whole lot of new things in their performance for the nationals.
"Wetini, our male lead, has a very creative mind so you never know what he could come up with."
Rotorua Lakes Council cultural ambassador and Te Arawa Kapa Haka organising committee member, Trevor Maxwell, said the competition was fierce and all the groups should be proud.
"I'm absolutely rapt with the standard of both days. Everyone can feel the vibes of the hard work that every group has put into their preparation," Mr Maxwell said.
Te Ururoa Flavell, Maori Development Minister and Waiariki MP, said the standard of the performance was very good.
"The standards have really lifted. I'm really proud of all the groups, they have been really awesome. We always expect a big crowd, it's always going to sell out, every time. I think that's why the standards are so good."
Here is a list of the full results:
Overall Aggregate:
- Mauri, Sir Howard Morrison Memorial Trophy:
Winner - Te Matarae i Orehu
- Toa Whakaihu Waka, Henry Taiporutu Mitchell trophy and Mauriora Kingi Memorial Trophy:
Winner - Te Matarae i Orehu
Aggregate place getters - qualifying for Te Mataini 2017, Hastings:
1st - Te Matarae i Orehu
2nd - Ngati Rangiwewehi
3rd- Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao
4th - Te Piki Kotuku o Rongomai
5th - Te Hikuwai
Aggregate Items:
- Whakaeke, Ruihana Trophy:
1st - Te Matarae i Orehu
2nd - Ngati Rangiwewehi
3rd - Te Piki Kotuku o Rongomai
- Moteatea, Tenga Rangitauira Trophy:
1st - Te Piki Kotuku o Rongomai
2nd equal - Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao and Ngati Whakaue
- Waiata-a-ringa, Kahu Morrison Memorial Trophy; Judge Gillanders Scott Memorial Trophy:
1st - Te Matarae i Orehu
2nd equal - Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao, Ngati Rangiwewehi and Te Piki Kotuku o Rongomai
- Poi, Makareti Papakura Trophy; Kato Flavell Trophy:
1st - Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao
2nd - Ngati Rangiwewehi
3rd - Te Matarae i Orehu
- Haka, Ngawhare Rangipuawhe Trophy:
1st - Ngati Rangiwewehi
2nd - Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao
3rd - Te Matarae i Orehu
- Whakamutunga, TK Enterprises Trophy:
1st equal - Ngati Rangiwewehi, Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao and Te Matarae i Orehu
- Te Reo, Rawiri Rangitauira Memorial Trophy:
1st - Te Hikuwai
2nd equal - Te Matarae i Orehu, Te Piki Kotuku o Rongomai and Ngati Tarawhai
Special Awards:
- Best New Group, Te Waka Ture - Brett Douglas Trophy:
- Ngati Kea/Ngati Tuara
- Best Pakeke Group, Eria Moke Trophy:
- Ngati Pikiao Pakeke
- Pakeke Group with most Koeke & Kuia, Waiariki District Cultural Challenge Shield:
- Ngati Kea/Ngati Tuara
- Composer's Award, Irirangi Tiakiawa Memorial Trophy:
- Te Hikuwai and Te Matarae i Orehu
Non-Aggregate:
- Waiata-a-Tira, Greg Tata Memorial Trophy:
1st - Ngati Tarawhai
2nd equal - Te Hikuwai, Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao, Ngati Whakaue and Te Matarae i Orehu
- Whaikorero, Judge Ken Hingston Trophy:
1st - Te Piki Kotuku o Rongomai
2nd - Te Matarae i Orehu
3rd - Ngati Tarawhai
- Kakahu, Kiritahanga Tiakiawa Memorial Trophy:
1st - Ngati Tarawhai
2nd equal - Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao and Te Matarae i Orehu
- Kai Tataki Tane, Rotorua Lakes Council and NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute Trophy; Joe Hakaraia Memorial Trophy:
1st - Te Piki Kotuku o Rongomai
2nd - Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao
3rd - Ngati Tarawhai
- Kai Tataki Wahine, Ngati Whakaue Trophy & Taini Morrison Memorial Trophy:
1st - Te Hikuwai
2nd - Ngati Rangiwewehi
3rd - Ngati Tarawhai
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