Te Koutu from Rotorua wins Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Title

Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi.

When the old net is cast aside, the new net goes fishing.

Te Kapa Haka o Te Koutu from Rotorua has emerged as the top kapa of Aotearoa after four days of competition in Tauranga.

More than 40 groups competed across three days at Te Tāwharau o Ngā Waka, the National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition, with the nine finalists competing again on Friday.

Te Wharekura o Māngere from Auckland finished in second place.

While Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa from Hamilton rounded out the podium in third.

The other finalists were: Te Maurea Whiritoi, Manukura, Te Kapa Haka o Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae, Te Reo Whakakoko o Mauao, Ngā KKM o Te Puku o Te Ika a Māui and Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere.

Te Tū Rangatira a te Rangatahi

A kaupapa that resonated throughout the entire week was Te Tū Rangatira a te Rangatahi - the leadership of the next generation.

At the pōwhiri, haukāinga and respected exponent of te ao haka Tamati Waaka challenged the country's young performers to ensure the power of te reo Māori could be heard far beyond the competition grounds.

"Pai tonu kia haruru ngā taringa o waho rā i te reo Māori. Kia hōhā ngā taringa i waho rā i te rongo i te ihi, i te wehi me te reka o ngā reo waiata, mai i tēnei rā tae noa ki te Paraire."

It's good to let those outside hear our language, those that might be annoyed to hear the power and sweetness of our singing voices from today until Friday

Across the week, that wero was answered.

Rōpū used the atamira to tell stories of whakapapa, mana motuhake and identity. They honoured loved ones who had passed, paid tribute to respected Māori leaders, celebrated their iwi and hapū, and reflected contemporary issues affecting Māori communities.

Te Kapa Haka o Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae kaiako Tangihaere Houpere told RNZ the standard displayed by this generation has been unlike anything he remembers.

"Tēnei whakareanga, tenei whakareanga he pūkenga rau, kāre ngā pūkenga i ā mātau i te kura nō reira e mīharo ana te kite i te reanga hou e whanake mai ana me ā rātau pūkenga he mīharo rawa atu."

This generation has so many skills, we weren't this talented when we were at school so it's amazing to see them developing those skills and to see their talents on display.

He, like many others RNZ spoke to, described kapa haka as one of the strongest vehicles for carrying te ao Māori into the future.

"Ki au nei koinei tētahi kauwaka kawe i ngā kaupapa Māori katoa o te ao Māori tikanga mai, kaupapa mai, kia whakatairanga, kia whakakaureratia ēnei kaupapa katoa ki te ao, kia mōhio rātau āe, kō wai tātau te iwi Māori."

To me haka is a vessel to carry all the issues of the Māori world, such as our customs, to elevate these things to the entire world so they know who we are as Māori people.

Kaihaka echoed that sentiment, describing haka as a form of healing, and as a place to amplify their stories.

Throughout the week another word echoed around the venue, kotahitanga, unity.

Whether they had travelled from Te Tai Tokerau, Te Waipounamu or Tāmaki Makaurau, competitors spoke of the friendships formed, the support shown between kura and the sense of belonging that extended beyond the whakataetae iself.

That feeling of aroha and immese pride even reached across the Tasman, with a Brisbane-based rōpū Te Rau Aroha travelling more than 2,500 kilometres to Tauranga, to watch some of the best kaihaka compete, to learn, and reconnect with their Māoritanga.

Why? Because kapa haka was "their world."

"Ko tōku ao tērā. Pō te ao, ao te pō. Koira tōku oranga," Nacoby-Jae Whit of Te Rau Aroha said.

This is my world, day and night. This is my life.

Behind every bracket were countless hours of preparation from kaiako, kura and whānau. As each performance ended, supporters rushed to embrace their tamariki with tears, cheers and waiata.

One māmā, who had attended six nationals with each of her tamariki said the lessons they learnt through kapa haka would stay with them long after the competition ended.

"What they learn here is what they take out into the real world.

Te Kapa Haka o Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae kaitātaki wāhine told RNZ haka was an artform of storytelling.

"I think it's a great place to express yourself and really show who you are...you can express yourself in your tuakiri Māori."

"Engari he mea pai hei whakarauora tonu i tō tātau reo, i ngā kōrero tuku iho, i ngā tikanga a kuia mā a koro mā."

It's a good avenue to revive our language, our stories and the customs of our elders.

As another generation leaves the national stage and another prepares to take its place, kaihaka, judges, tutors and whānau hope more tamariki continue following the pathway laid before them. Because what the week proved, is that the future of kapa haka is here and thriving.

"Ko taku akiaki nui ki a kautau e noho ana ki ngā kāinga, ki ngā kapa, ngā tamariki, kia kaha tonu te whaia ngā mahi a Hine-te-rēhia a Tāne rore," Tangihaere Houpere of Te Kapa Haka o Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae said.

To all the people watching at home, the groups, the children, continue to pursue the arts of Hine-te-rēhia and Tāne rore. (Gods of kapa haka)