The chair of Te Arawa Kapa Haka says the regional finals over the weekend showed how tight the competition is and how kapa haka can extend your life.

Trevor Maxwell says the fact previous Te Matatini winner Te Matarae i o Rehu only came fourth shows the strength in the region, as teams practice for months in the hope of securing a place in the nationals.

With 21 teams competing, Te Arawa can send six roopu to Auckland next year.

Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai, which came second in last year’s Te Matatini, topped the competition, followed by Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao and Mr Maxwell’s own Ngāti Rangiwewehi, which revived some of the material he and his late wide Atareta introduced when they were leading it.

The final two spots were filled by Ngāti Whakaue and new group Te Hekenga ā Rangi.

He says a special highlight was the pakeke performances on Friday, which included a trophy for the oldest performer.

"That was Bonnie Amohou who is 95. Ok, we had to take some chairs on to the stage alongside the roopu. but they're singing there, doing the actions, some in their wheelchairs. People have said they haven't been well for a while but performing with their roopu gives them a lift. If it adds some more years on for them, I'm happy," Mr Maxwell says.

Trevor Maxwell

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