March 04, 2016
Te Arawa picks kapa haka challengers
One of the strongest kapa haka regions, Te Arawa, will this weekend find out which teams will represent it at Te Matatini in Kahungunu next year.
Coordinator Rangitihi Pene says 18 teams are competing, with the results due Saturday afternoon.
He says what's particularly gratifying is the sense of generational renewal and whanau involvement.
"More than any other year I've seen the older groups take on students straight out of high school. usually there is not room for them, or room for a couple but you see far more this year. It's become whanau not only watching the sport but they all participate together. We have got big blocks of whanau who are attached to a number of groups," Mr Pene says.
There are two new trophies this year to honour leaders who have died in the past year, the Rawiri Rangitauira Trophy for best reo, and a trophy for the overall winner in the name of Mauriora Kingi.
FULL INTERVIEW: RANGITIHI PENE
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