Ōtautahi kapa haka group qualifies for national competition

An Ōtautahi kapa haka rōpū (group) placed second at the South Island’s regional kapa haka competition over the weekend.

Kōkō Tangiwai took the stage at Waitaha Regionals in striking green, reflecting their name, which refers to a translucent green variety of pounamu known as bowenite.

Kaitataki Tāne (male leader) Junior Tana said he was proud of their performance.

“Our whare is happy,” he said. 

“There were some really awesome audience engagement moments, which validated the kaupapa and the approach we’d taken with certain items.”

After months and hours of training, the rōpū qualified for Te Matatini 2027, Aotearoa’s biggest kapa haka competition.

“We love a trip to Matatini…, and it’s an absolute privilege to go to Hopuhopu, and perform before Kuini Ngā Wai hono i te pō (The Māori Queen)...representing our rohe (region), our town, and our whānau here in Ōtautahi Waitaha.”

They faced their fair share of challenges leading up to competition day, but didn’t let it get the better of them.

Tana fell ill during competition week, making for a very different experience from what he was used to.

“I was very conscious about the fluids and the garlic and honey,” he said.

“I’ve never been sick on a competition day before.”

Despite their success, Tana said there is still room for growth.

“There has been a little bit of decline in the quality of kapa haka that we’ve been able to produce… I say that purely based on the outcomes at our national festival.

“...That is definitely something we want to contribute to…because there is a capability uplift that needs to happen within our group and across the rohe.”

For now, they’re taking a short break before planning for Te Matatini 2027.

“We’re looking forward to planning our debrief, our reflection and review, and having a bit of a celebration with our Tangiwai whānau in a week or two.”

Kōkō Tangiwai placed second after Te Ahikaaroa, a rōpū founded in 1993, also based in Ōtautahi. 

“Congratulations to our mates, we’ve got heaps of whānau and friends in that team, so you know, elated and excited for them,” Tana said.

This year was also significant for rōpū Rukutia, who placed fourth and became the first rōpū from Otepoti to qualify for Te Matatini through Waitaha Regionals. 

“We were all happy and standing and clapping when their name got announced.”

Junior Tana grew up immersed in kapa haka, participating in numerous kapa haka competitions from a young age. 

In 2024, he formed Kōkō Tangiwai with his wife, Kerrie-Anna Tana, to increase the number of performers at Waitaha Regionals.

However, after seeing their potential during training, they shifted their focus to being competitive.

That year, they won Waitaha Regionals, qualifying for Te Matatini 2025 within their first year of being a rōpū.