Returning as a highlight of the 2025 Matariki season, this major event promises an even more spectacular experience than its 2023 debut, uniting international street food, music, and 28 haka performances. Thousands are expected to flock to GLOBOX Arena and Events Centre, Claudelands on 13-14 June to enjoy this free family friendly celebration of our unique identity as part of Aotearoa New Zealand.

 

Te Papanui, renowned for its rich history and cultural significance as an important food source, will maintain this role at the newly launched Tainui Haka Kai Festival. Integrated into the broader Tainui Kapa Haka Festival, this unique feature will celebrate Matariki by hosting 40 in-theme stalls offering kai and taonga that celebrates Māori culture.

 

The kai stalls celebrate kotahitanga in its truest form, bringing together all peoples of Aotearoa. A key feature will be the modern street food twists of kai Māori favourites, from hāngi, to kaimoana (seafood), and all of the fritter and fried bread variations you could think of, over the two day event.

 

Seventeen formidable teams will converge at the festival, showcasing the pinnacle of high school kapa haka talent. High school representatives from all four major iwi of Tainui Waka will engage in fierce competition, vying for the prestigious honour of representing the region at the national competitions, hosted by Mataatua in Tauranga in 2026.

 

Defending champions Te Maurea Whiritoi, from Hamilton Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools, made history in 2023 by clinching their first-ever Tainui title. This season, they're fielding a youthful and eager lineup, aspiring to retain their championship. Notably, Year 9 debutant Delilah Petelo Te-Pere steps into the prestigious role of kaitātaki wahine (female leader), following a legacy of nationally renowned talents that include The Voice Australia sensation, Jaedyn Randell.

 

Te Kura Tuarua o Tuakau makes a historic appearance at the Tainui festival, joining for the first time after a long-standing presence at Auckland's Polyfest. The school saw over 90 students trial for the opportunity, underscoring the enduring popularity of kapa haka. They will participate in the "Toi Tupu" division, designed to encourage broad participation and offer students a fantastic stage experience with top-tier production.

 

Te Wharekura o Manaia is proud to bring Hauraki back into the fold for the first time since 2019. This momentum builds on a region-wide surge in kapa haka participation, significantly boosted by Hauraki Kōwhao Rau's debut performance at the 2024 Tainui Kapa Haka Festival for adult teams.

 

The festival's dedication to academic excellence is underscored by the presence of a New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) team, who will assess and moderate National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) standards. Their importance is heightened by the inclusion of standards relevant to Te Ao Haka, a university-approved academic pathway. This aligns with the event's broader economic, social, and cultural goals, promising excellent outcomes for all involved.

 

"The Tainui Teachers Association has always been dedicated to improving the academic outcomes of our young people," shares Secondary Schools representative, Mere Clendon-Smallman. "It's been awesome working with Te Whare Haka o Tainui and using their supportive infrastructure to make the aspirations of our rangatahi and their kura a reality”.

 

Tainui is arguably the most fiercely contested kapa haka region in the country, brimming with exceptional talent and rich history. The 2025 festival promises an intense battle for the coveted four national qualification spots.

 

Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa will be a team to watch, bringing years of kapa haka development to fruition this year. They'll be determined to make a strong statement after narrowly missing the 2024 National finals through a tie-breaker process.

 

Ngā Taiātea Wharekura enters the competition with renewed vigour, benefiting from a tutor team of stalwarts that guided them to their 2012 national title, and reinforced by returning alumni.

 

Te Wharekura o Rākaumanga boasts an impressive legacy, having won the national competition multiple times. Their most recent triumph was in 2014, a memorable performance where the reigning Māori Monarch, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, served as their kaitātaki wahine (female leader).

 

Adding to the competitive fire, Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere was the highest-placed Tainui team at last year's national competition, setting a high bar for others to follow.

 

The competitive field is further deepened by past national qualifiers like Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha, alongside a host of emerging talents who have consistently challenged the competition's established powerhouses in recent years. With such immense talent vying for just four national spots, this year's competition promises an intense and unmissable spectacle.

 

With a name inspired by 'Te Matatini,' the Olympics of kapa haka that draws millions globally, the "Te Mokotini" segment of the festival celebrates the youngest performers: tamariki mokopuna (under 5s) from kōhanga reo and puna reo across the region. On June 13, eleven teams will undoubtedly melt the hearts of their whānau and the wider community as they proudly showcase the spirit of their ancestors on stage.

 

The Hauora Hub continues its vital role as an established feature of the Tainui Haka Festivals, dedicated to raising awareness and improving access to essential health services. This year, thanks to a continued partnership with Te  Ngaakau-a-Kiwa Charitable Trust, the Hub will host an impressive 11 health providers. They'll offer engaging, interactive activities designed to promote active participation and understanding across a wide spectrum of the health sector.

 

This event is the first under the leadership of the newly formed Te Whare Haka o Tainui Charitable Trust board. The Trust is swiftly fulfilling its aspirations to enhance coordination within the regional kapa haka community, effectively bringing together various sectors and spearheading a unified approach to region-wide aspirations.

 

“This festival really shows what Te Whare Haka o Tainui is all about – our strategic and collaborative way of working," says Chair Haani Huata-Allen. "We're super focused on empowering the vision of our Tainui Secondary Schools at their biggest biennial event. At the same time, we're bringing together the different sectors to create a kaupapa that advances the aspirations of the whole community. This innovative approach works because we're committed to really understanding what matters most to the people we serve, helping us bring shared goals together for everyone's success."

 

Huata-Allen’s sentiments are clearly reflected in the numerous groundbreaking initiatives that make this Tainui kapa haka festival the biggest yet.

 

Festival Director Toti West, a long-standing event manager for the Tainui kapa haka community, expressed enthusiasm for the new approach. "Innovation is at the fore of enhanced experiences for our whānau," says West. "In 2025, we're fulfilling the concept of being a fully-fledged festival, bringing together all of the festive elements the community has come to love. Great music, delicious food, and powerful haka will combine in a family-friendly atmosphere for everyone to enjoy, all within the spirit of the ongoing Matariki celebrations."

 

The Tainui Kapa Haka Festival 2025 promises to be a spectacular display of cultural pride, power, and vibrant storytelling. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the very best of Tainui Kapa Haka!

 

Key Event Information:

• Venue: GLOBOX Arena, Claudelands.
• Dates: Friday 13 June: 1pm – 7pm | Saturday 14 June: 10am – 7pm.
• Entry: Koha (donation).
• Parking: Free Public Parking via Gate 3.
• Broadcast: Tainui Live platforms.
• Important notes:
  • No photos or videos.
  • Only individually packed homemade food allowed into the venue. No commercial food allowed.
  • Smoke free, vape free, alcohol and drug free event.