Kapa haka from across Aotearoa have gathered at a marae in Ngāruawāhia for a weekend-long haka symposium discussing the past, present, and future of te ao haka.
The draw for Te Matatini 2025 was revealed at Tūrangawaewae Marae yesterday, determining the order of performances of the 55 groups and their allocated pools.
West Auckland-based group Te Rōpū Manutaki is set to open the competition – a challenge the group says they're willing to take.
In attendance was next year's host region, Taranaki, alongside the Kiingitanga and representatives from haka groups across the motu.
"Hīkaka pai ana ahau, haunga engari anō pea taku kapa, e aua (I'm excited, however I’m not too sure about my group though)," Te Rōpū Manutaki tutor Jonathan Whaikawa said.
"Heoi anō taku mahara ka pai tēnei. He wero pai (However, I'd say it's a good thing. It's a good challenge)."
The Te Matatini draw for 2025 was announced at Tūrangawaewae Marae yesterday after a three-day kapa haka symposium.
The top 12 groups of the last festival were split evenly among the four pools in accordance with their placings.
Reigning champions Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui are the second to last group to take the stage on the first day of the competition. Tutor Tamati Waaka pointed out Te Rōpū Manutaki as a potential competitor.
"Ko tā mātou e titiro kē atu ana, ko wai o mātou hoariri i taua rā, ko tētahi o ngā kapa o tāu nā rohe ana ko Manutaki tētahi kei roto i tēnā puna i tō mātou nei taha engari ko rātou te tuatahi ko mātou kei te pito. Nō reira koira te mahi he tirotiro ko wai ngā hoariri (We're looking for who are our biggest threats, one group being Manutaki who is in our pool but the first team up and we’re towards the end. So, that’s what we’re doing now, looking for our biggest threat)."
Confirmed draw for Te Matatini ki Te Kāhui Maunga 2025 (Source: Te Karere)
How the pooling system works
Due to the high number of kapa now in Te Matatini 2025, the pooling has been extended to four – a change from three pools.
The 55 groups were split into four pools: Te Ihu, Te Haumi, Te Kei, and Te Awa. Each pool has 13-14 kapa who will perform in their allocated days and battle it out for one of three places in the final day – Te Mātangirua.
Te Matatini partnered with multiple Māori media outlets including Te Ao Māori News, Aukaha News, Te Reo o Te Uru, and Te Karere for a nationwide broadcast bringing the latest updates for viewers at home. This collaboration was the first of its kind for Māori media.
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