Te Matatini finalist Whāngārā mai Tawhiti. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises
The twelve finalists for Te Matatini have been announced, among them are defending champions Te Whānau a Apanui, boundary-pushing Auckland group Angitu and star-studded newcomers Te Taumata o Apanui.
Over the last five days 55 groups divided into four pools, have competed at Pukekura, the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth.
The twelve finalists are:
- Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao
- Te Pou-o-Mangataawhiri
- Te Kapa Haka o te Whānau a Apanui
- Ngā Tumanako
- Angitu
- Te Waka Huia
- Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue
- Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai
- Te Taumata o Apanui
- Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti
- Mōtai Tangata Rau
- Ngāti Rangiwewehi
The finalists will perform one more time on Saturday in Te Matangirua, finals day.
Te Matatini finalist Whāngārā mai Tawhiti. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises
The scores from the preliminary rounds do not carry over into the finals, so the teams who made it have a chance to lift their performance and clinch the title.
Tickets and gate sales for the final day are sold out.
The first group will perform at 8.30am, with the final group set to take the atamira just after 4pm. The prizegiving will start just after 5pm with the overall winners announced soon after.
The winner takes home the supreme title of Toa Whakaihuwaka, the Ngāpo Pimia Wehi Duncan Mcintyre Trophy and bragging rights for the next two years.
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