Performance by Te Reanga Morehu O Ratana. Photo / Supplied by Te Matatini
Kapa haka teams are braving soggy conditions performing for the top spot at Te Matatini.
It's the final day of the four-day national kapa haka festival being held at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.
Te Mātārae I Orehu was the first team scheduled to perform this morning at 8.40am.
The event has experienced a few scattered showers over the past days but wet weather has set in today.
Metservice has forecast possible heavy and thundery rain easing to showers in the evening. A southerly could rise to gale-force in exposed places.
There are 46 teams taking part in the festival, 44 of them from New Zealand, including three from Wellington. There is a team each from the Australian cities of Perth and Sydney.
While Te Matatini has gone ahead today, another big event for the region, Wings over Wairarapa, has been canned.
A mix of low cloud, wind and rain has made the final day unsafe for the public and pilots.
It's the second disappointment this weekend, after an American B-52 bomber was unable to fly to New Zealand because of mechanical issues.
Event chairman Bob Francis said cancelling today was the right decision.
"We're definitely disappointed but we've had two amazing days."
A prizegiving for Te Matatini finalists will be held at 3.20pm.
The nine finalists are:
Te Mātārae I Orehu
Mōtai Tanagata Rau,
Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui
Ngā Tumanako
Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao,
Te Pou o Mangataawhiri,
Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti,
Te Iti Kahurangi
Te Pikikotuku o Ngāti Rongomai.
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