The winners of three regional kapa competitions are all on their way to Te Matatini 2025 in Taranaki, along with several other successful qualifiers from Mātaatua, Ngāti Kahungunu and Te Tauihu o te Waka a Māui.
Defending national champions Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau-a-Apanui won the Mātaatua competition held at Tōrere in the Eastern Bay over the past three days, Te Rangiura o Wairarapa was first in the Ngāti Kahungunu regionals in Dannevirke, and Te Kuru Marutea shone through in Te Tauihu’s competition held in Nelson, and have all guaranteed places at the nation’s premier kapa haka festival from February 25 through March 1, 2025 at the Bowl of Brooklands in Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.
Results
Six qualifying spots were available from Mātaatua, four in Ngāti Kahungunu and two in Te Tauihu.
The 12 groups from these regions set to take the stage at next year’s Te Matatini festival are:
