The region’s top teams have returned from Te Matatini 2023 National Kapa Haka Competition with honours.
The Whanganui/Taranaki region is a combined kapa haka district, with Te Reanga Mōrehu O Rātana, of Rātana Pā, Aotea Ūtanganui of South Taranaki and North Taranaki team Ngā Purapura O Te Tai Hauāuru taking the Te Matatini stage in front of 60,000 spectators at Eden Park in Auckland.
All three won or placed in sections of the four-day competition which wrapped up on Saturday.
![Stan Walker in his first Te Matatini appearance for Te Reanga Mōrehu o Ratana. Photo / Te Matatini](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/Y4CTIVERWZFTZIZ23IYCNQLTME.jpg?auth=58455d4a2f964ed4e5e7890f27a71b8e6f66a2eaa844d574fd85a898ef5141e2&width=16&height=11&quality=70&focal=1689%2C1131&smart=false)
Te Reanga Mōrehu O Rātana have long attended Te Matatini competitions, and this year won the choral section with their waiata, Kia Piri Mai E Īhoa.