The judges have been named for Te Matatini Festival.
Twenty-six official judges were appointed by the National Te Matatini Committee for the biennial event to be held at Hagley Park, Christchurch, in March 2015.
Six Te Arawa groups will take part, Te Matarae i Orehu, Nga Uri o Te Whanoa, Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao, Ngati Rangiwewehi, Kataore, Te Pikikotuku o Rongomai.
Te Matatini chairman Selwyn Parata said the judges would adjudicate 45 of the best kapa haka groups in Aotearoa and Australia to determine who will be the "champion of champions".
Fifty-five nominations were received in total from the 13 regions who participated in the preliminary rounds this year.