Ngāti Awa ki Tai hosted Ngāti Awa whānui this past Labour Weekend for the biennial Ngāti Awa Te Toki Festival in Whakatāne.

Held at Rugby Park, the event drew around 6,000 people.

Since its start in 2014, the festival has provided a gathering place for Ngāti Awa to celebrate their shared identity and traditions.

Operational committee chair Reweti Elliott says Saturday featured 11 tamariki and 18 pakeke whakangahau teams, with Sunday dedicated to 13 kapa competing in the competitive section.

He says a unique aspect of Te Toki is that each hapū performs a compulsory waiata or haka during their stand.

“We have a compulsory mōteatea, or traditional chant, that each group must do. We also have compulsory haka and compulsory raurākau. If we attend any function or kaupapa outside of our iwi, we can take these items with us,” says Elliott.

Reweti Elliott says the next Te Toki will be hosted in Te Teko by the hapū of the Rangitaiki River.