Groups around Northland work hard for Te Tai Tokerau kapa haka regionals

Muriwhenua placed second at the 2016 Te Tai Tokerau Regional Kapa Haka competition. Photo / John Stone

Joby Hopa says a lot of hard work goes into preparing for kapa haka competitions: hours spent creating material that fits into 25 minutes and weekends lost to practise from early in the morning to late night --all in order to get 50 people singing in tune.

This is what groups around Northland will be doing ahead of the Te Tai Tokerau regional kapa haka competition later this month.

"What you put in is what you get back. At the end of the day what you get back is you're receiving a whole heap. You're living like Maori, you're sharing, you're gaining whanaungatanga (relationships), you're having kotahitanga - working as one to make the job lighter. All of those are attributes of our ancestors, this is what they did and you're healthier for it," said Mr Hopa, of Whangarei group Hatea.

Muriwhenua placed second at the 2016 Te Tai Tokerau Regional Kapa Haka competition. Photo / John Stone

The regionals are being held at ASB Stadium in Kensington on Saturday, March 24. Mr Hopa, who is also chair of Waitangi Cultural Committee which organises the event, confirmed 10 groups had registered so far.

The event is held biennially and the top three groups at regionals will go on to compete at national kapa haka competition Te Matatini which is being held at the Westpac Trust Stadium, also known as the Cake Tin, in Wellington next year.

Mr Hopa said the Northland regionals had been going for more than 30 years.

"Hatea has been going now for 18 years and our first regionals was in 2001 and we came second. We went to the nationals in 2002 and have been to every nationals since.

"It's one of the main vehicles for people to engage in Maori language and culture. Kapa haka has put it out there on a vehicle that people don't mind. It's entertaining, it's fun and it shares really good messages," he said.

Mr Hopa said the level of competition had risen over the years.

"Everyone is coming to the play. We punch well above our weight. All the groups have strong leadership and strong families that support them. All we've seen is growth," he said.

This year he is proud to be performing with his mother, his siblings and his children.

"That's what it's about ... We are together and we sing. It's uplifting and it's soothing," he said.