Unique haka rōpū competes at regionals
A unique Far North kapa haka rōpū will be going all out at the Northland regional competition this Saturday 23 March at McKay Stadium in Whangārei.
A unique Far North kapa haka rōpū will be going all out at the Northland regional competition this Saturday 23 March at McKay Stadium in Whangārei from 8am.
The excitement of Te Tai Tokerau Senior Kapa Haka Regional Competition, Maranga Mai e te Iwi, will be amplified for the 40 members of the Far North rōpū because it’s the only group with council connections to make it to the regionals.
Te Kapa Haka o Te Kaunihera includes elected members as well as council staff and whānau.
The team has been together for three weeks practising on weekends and during lunch breaks. Members say their secret weapon is showing that the council is connected to and working with tangata whenua, while supporting Te Tiriti o Waitangi and He Whakaputanga, the Declaration of Independence.
Councillor Tāmati Rākena is excited to see the council’s values in action.
“Whanaungatanga is one of the Far North District Council’s core values and for us to walk the talk by supporting this kaupapa is mīharo (awesome)”.
Hundreds of haka rōpū are competing in regional competitions over the next few months – with 12 competitions across Aotearoa and one on Australia’s Gold Coast. Each team is facing off for a place in the national kapa haka competition, Te Matatini, to be held in New Plymouth in 2025.
This weekend’s event has sold out, but you can watch the livestream on Whakaata Māori TV or facebook.
Kapa Haka Regional Competitions 2024
- 23-24 February 2024, Mātaatua, Tōrere, Te One, Ōpōtiki
- 24 February 2024, Te Tauihu, Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
- 24 February 2024, Ngāti Kahungunu, A&P Showgrounds, Dannevirke
- 8-9 March 2024, Te Arawa, Rotorua Events Centre, Rotorua
- 8-9 March 2024, Te Kāhui Maunga, Te Whare o Ruapūtahanga/TSB Hub, Te Hāwera
- 23 March 2024, Te Whanganui a Tara, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
- 23 March 2024, Te Tai Tokerau, McKay Stadium, Whangārei
- 6-7 April 2024, Te Tai Rāwhiti, Houhoupiko, Gisborne
- 20 April 2024, Rangitāne, Fly Arena, Palmerston North
- 20 April 2024, Waitaha, Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch
- 19-20 April 2024, Te Whenua Moemoeā, Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre
- 27 April 2024, Tainui, Claudelands Event Centre, Hamilton
- 11-12 May 2024, Tāmaki Makaurau, Spark Arena, Auckland
Main picture - Te Kapa Haka o Te Kaunihera practising last night for the big event.
Below - the line up for the regional competition on Saturday.
Below - the 40 haka rōpū members include elected members as well as council staff and whānau.
