The National Primary School Kapa Haka competition, Te Mana Kuratahi 2025 ki Mātaatua, is being held in Tauranga Moana.
The below rohe have held their qualifying competitions and their respective kapa have been identified to represent their rohe at Te Mana Kuratahi nsext year.
Well done to all kaihaka who participated and acknowledgements to all whānau, tutors, and kura/schools who make it possible for our next generation to experience te ao haka in all its beauty.
Rangitāne
This year Rangitāne hosted the largest regional competition in its history, with 23 primary and intermediate schools participating in the Manawatū, Horowhenua, and Tararua districts over the two-day event.
The six qualifying kapa for the national Te Mana Kuratahi competition in Tauranga-Monana 2025 are:
1st - Ngā Iti Rearea (Te Kura Waenga o Tirohanga Monrad Intermediate)
2nd - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tamaki Nui Ā Rua
3rd - Ngā Pou o Tartarus (Te Kura Tuatahi o Papaioea Central Normal School)
4th - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Manawatū
5th - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mana Tamariki
6th - Ngā Kōtuku o Punahau (Te Kura Waenga o Taitoko Levin Intermediate)
Tini whetū ki te rangi, ko Rangitāne ki te whenua.
Tāmaki Makaurau
Six kura qualified for Mana Kuratahi 2025 from Tāmaki Makaurau:
1st - Te Kapa Puawai o Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae (pictured, photo by Sharkys Media)
2nd - Te Kura Māori o Nga Tapuwae
3rd - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kotuku
4th - Te Kapa Haka o Te Raki o Pukekohe (Pukekohe North School)
5th - Te Whanau o Tupuranga (Kia Aroha Campus)
6th - Te Manu Kai Miro (Te Kura Kaupapa Māori a Rohe o Mangere)
Tainui
1st - Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa
2nd - Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga
3rd - Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere - Kura Waenga
4th - Te Kura Kaupapa Maaori o Bernard Fergusson
5th - Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha
6th - Te Kura o Ngaati Hauaa
Kahungunu
Mātaatua
Te Kāhui Maunga
Te Kāhui Maunga held two regional competitions to identify the four kapa who qualify for Te Mana Kuratahi National competition. Both competitions were supported by Te Kāhui Maunga and held in term three this year.
Aotea ki Whanganui – Te Manu Kopara was held on 16 August at Springvale Stadium, Whanganui. Ten kapa participated with around 400 kaihaka experiencing te ao haka. The two qualifying teams representing Aotea ki Whanganui are:
Te Atihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi
Te Kura o Kokohuia.
Aotea ki Taranaki – Te Huihuinga o ngā Tātarakihi was held 12-13 September at Owae Marae. Thirty kapa participated – seven whakataetae and 23 whakangahau involving approximately 1,500 kaihaka. The two qualifying teams representing Aotea ki Taranaki are:
Te Tira Haka o Ngaruahine (Te Kura o Ngaruahinerangi)
Te Pārekereke o Rangiātea (TKKM o Te Pi’ipi’inga Kākano mai i Rangiātea)
Te Tai Tokerau
The Te Tai Tokerau Primary regional qualifying competition was held over two-days in October at Te Papa Hawaiki in Kaikohe.
“This year 18 teams performed involving around 720 kaihaka, in front of an audience of approximately 2,000,” says Rohe Pou Takawaenga Chris Henare. Five teams qualified to attend Mana Kuratahi 2025 Tauranga Moana:
1st - Ngā Māhuri – TKKM o Te Rangi Āniwaniwa (pictured)
2nd - Te Pū o Te Wheke – TKKM o Kaikohe
3rd - Ngā Huiarau o Kawakawa
4th - TKKM o Te Rāwhitiroa
5th - Horahora primary School
Chris also says their rohe implemented a judges development programme which was run successfully. It has helped to identify key development areas and shows potential to allow growth and give experience and guidance to young and emerging judges. Ultimately this will ensure quality across the board in all reanga from primary through to kura tuarua, and to the senior level.
Waitaha
Rangaihi, the Regional Primary School kapa haka competition in Waitaha, saw an impressive turnout with thirteen groups showcasing their performances. The event was a vibrant display of talent and dedication, with a remarkable 455 children standing proudly on stage, captivating the audience with their performances. Out of these, three kapa haka groups have successfully qualified for Te Mana Kuratahi.
1st - Whakapūmau Tuakana (Kura: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kura Whakapūmau i te Reo Tūturu ki Waitaha)
2nd - Te Tipuranga o Te Whānau Tahi (Kura: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi)
3rd - Ihutai ki Te Waka Unua (Kura: Te Waka Unua)
Te Tauihu
Kia Hukere te Hoe our Primary school qualifiers were held over two days in September at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson.
“This year the increase in participation was from 15 kapa in 2022 to 28,” says Melissa Barnett, Rohe Pou Takawaenga Te Tauihu. “Because of the increase we had to hold the event over two days, the first time ever for us here in Tauihu.”
“Our Te Matatini National Board Delegate Tom Alesana, myself and our Kaituitui Ahurea, Huia Rentoul hosted two separate wānanga mainly aimed at our kaiako at schools who were first time performers. Within these wānanga we covered all aspects of how the competition side of things work, the logistics of backstage and being on stage and had some of our upcoming tutors visit these schools throughout their practices to help them with waiata and choreography.”
There was a huge improvement in competency and excellence because of the wānanga. The tutors who went in to help these kapa gave history about the whenua their schools were on and the background on the iwi waiata that reflects that whenua to pay homage. Alot of the iwi waiata were used throughout the competition, and appropriate haka.
Audience numbers exceeded expectations. We noticed a few audience members not understanding kapa haka etiquette i.e. having to stay quiet throughout the performances, must stay seated, not using cameras, and not knowing about the closing of doors in between performances so not to disturb the performers on stage.
We are planning to host a wānanga on ‘audience etiquette’ but overall, the two-day competition was a huge success. The two rōpū that will represent Te Tauihu o te Waka a Māui at Te Mana Kuratahi in Tauranga next year are:
1st - Te Pītau Whakarei from Nelson Intermediate (pictured)
2nd - Te Kaupapa Māori o Tuia te Matangi.