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It's the smallest region contributing to the national Māori performing arts competition but there is a lot of heart in Te Tau Ihu.
Competitor Anya Tahere moved to the top of the South Island a year ago and says it's clear people are passionate about kapa haka and ngā tāonga tuku iho.
Four senior teams took the stage at Nelson College on Saturday for the regional final, with some school teams also doing brackets.
"The iwi here, and there are eight iwi that connect to the top of the South, have a commitment to grow that and have a strategy in place to look at our younger babies coming through and enhance and strengthen te ao kapa ki konei and I believe can increase the number of groups or our participation in Te Matatini," she says.
Kia Ngāwari will take the hopes of the region across Cook Strait in February for Te Matatini.
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