Kapa haka groups ready to compete

Whanganui kapa haka group Te Matapihi performed at Pakaitore/Moutoa Gardens in February 2015. PHOTO/ FILE

Across Whanganui and Taranaki, nine kapa haka groups are preparing for regional competitions in Whanganui on Saturday.

Regional competitions happen every two years, with national ones in between. In 2014 the Aotea regionals were held in Taranaki, and this year Whanganui River kapa haka group Te Matapihi is hosting them, chairman Ants Patea said.

The national competition - Te Matatini - will be hosted by Ngati Kahungunu in Hastings next February, with crowds of 30,000 people expected.

In this year's Aotea regionals the nine groups are Te Matapihi, Putiki Wharanui and Te Reanga Morehu o Ratana from Whanganui, with Taranaki sending Aotea Utanganui from Patea, a group from New Plymouth and a group from north Taranaki.

The remaining three groups are all taikura - made up of older people. Whanganui has two, Te Taikura o Te Awa Tupua and a Ratana group, and Taranaki has one.

The number of groups competing determines the number who get to perform at national level. Because there are nine from Aotea this year, three will go forward to Te Matatini, and Mr Patea said getting there was the biggest prize. There will be about 20 judges in all. The head judge is Rawiri Tinirau.

The groups arrive for the competition tomorrow afternoon and will be welcomed with a powhiri at Putiki Marae at 3.30pm - after that, it's straight to sound checks and rehearsals.

The competition is at Whanganui's Springvale Stadium, with doors open at 8am on Saturday and the first performance at 9.15am. Tickets will be sold at the door - under-5s are free, aged 5 to 13 pay $10, and 14 and over pay $15.

Mr Patea is a member of Te Matapihi, a kapa haka group made up of people from the five Hui Aranga clubs of the Whanganui River.

He acknowledged the contribution the late Morvin Simon and his family have made to the group over many years. Apart from Kura Simon's role with the Whanganui taikura group, the Simons will be absent this year.

Te Matapihi's new young tutors are Pepe Shanell Wallace and Luke and Te Oranga Whanarere. The Ratana group, Te Reanga Morehu o Ratana, is again tutored by Te Taepa Kameta.