Fifty judges who will have the hard task of selecting the next top kapa haka in the country for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga, Kāhui Tipua, Kāhui Wairua have been announced.
Judges will consider groups on 16 aggregate and non-aggregate categories – four judges to each aggregate item, two to every non-aggregate.
Scroll down to the end of this article for the full list of judges.
The competition was launched this morning at an event held at Pukekura (Bowl of Brooklands) in New Plymouth, the venue that will host the competition next year.
Tickets sales were also announced at the event. They will open at midday today and temporary campsite facilities will be made available to book at the same time as festival tickets. It will come as a relief for kapa haka enthusiasts as accommodation in the city and nearby towns has dried up.
It will be first time for Te Kāhui Maunga – a collective made up of kapa haka from Taranaki, Whanganui and Rātana – to host a national kapa haka competition since 1994. Back then, the competition was known as the Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Festival, and it was held at the Hāwera Racecourse.
A special performance of the iconic song Poi E was performed by Te Kāhui Maunga kapa haka, led by the Pātea Māori Club.
Here's the full list of judges:
Head judge
Turuhira Hare
Matatoki
Charlie Rahiri
Paora Sharples
Te Ara Vakaafi
Rhonda Tibble
Aggregate judges
Whakaeke
Dr Te Hira Paenga
Hohepa Tamehana
Janis de Thierry
Kelly Henare-Heke
Mōteatea
Paora Brosnan
Tapeka Henare
Rangi Te Whiu
Ngarimu Parata
Waiata ā ringa
Heeni Kereru
Thomas Parata
Te Rangi Hemi
Raymond Kaiki
Poi
Leanne Morehu
Donna Morrison
Miri Hare
Te Atarangi Whiu
Haka
Tei Nohotima
Watson Ohia
Mark Pirikahu
Hemi Tai Tin
Whakawātea
Tuhoe Huata
Anthony de Thierry
Haani Huata-Allen
Jojo Rangihaeata
Te Kairangi o Te Mita o Te Reo
Chris Winitana
Petina Winiata
Rawiri Tinirau
Ngaringi Katipa
Non-aggregate judges
Titonga mōteatea
Ruki Tobin
Georgina Kerekere
Titonga waiata ā ringa
Keita Tuhi
Komene Kururangi
Titonga poi
Alexia Greening
Robyn Hata-Gage
Titonga haka
Wayne Ngata
Haturini McGarvey
Waiata tira
Ruakiri Fairhall
Shanelle Wallace
Kākahu
Tina Winitana
Mark Kopua
Manukura wahine
Ngahiriwa Tai Tin
Huia Hahunga
Manukura tāne
Hohua Mohi
Joe Harawira
Te Reo a Tuhi
Leon Blake
Te Raania Ormsby-Teki
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