Melville High School's kapa haka group Mangakotukutuku took top honours at the Mana Ariki national kapa haka championships at Taumarunui last weekend.
The sun shone and a fantail flew overhead as the group entered the stage in the intermediate section.
Tutor and Melville High head of Maori, Te Mana Rollo,says the group of 29 girls and 17 boys worked tirelessly in the weeks leading up to the festival with the aim of bringing back the taonga (trophy).
The last time the school competed in the competition, in 2009, it was third.
The young group, with many competing for the first time, included two girls and two boys from Hillcrest High School and one from Cambridge High School.
Kaitiaki wahine (female leader) Nakita Wiperi was proud of the intense commitment by the group and acknowledged the members, who had have given up time after school, every lunch hour and during weekends to improve skills in poi, waiata and haka.
"I'm so proud of our group, the hard work we have put in over the past four months has paid off."
The group's performance embodied the spiritual nature of Mana Ariki Marae, which was founded by prophet Alexander Phillips.
