Te Arawa Kapa Haka Whakataetae a-Rohe is underway with the first groups grabbing the crowd's attention and setting the tone for the rest of the event.
The rest of the groups will come out swinging tomorrow to do battle for places at Te Matatini, the national kapa haka championships.
With poi already twirling through the air, voices fiercely filling the hall and haka making its presence well known, 18 groups will vie for the honour of performing at Te Matatini 2017 in Hastings.
This year's Te Arawa competition is in honour of the memory of the late Mauriora Kingi who was the Rotorua Lakes Council kaupapa Maori director and respected kaumatua.
Down there this afternoon was Temuera Morrison who, in his younger days, used to lead Ngati Rangiwewehi. They are performing tomorrow.
