Te Matatini 2025: Tainui confirms five teams, Hauraki misses out

After initially saying a sixth team may still qualify for Te Matatini in 2025 pending an investigation by the Tainui Waka Cultural Trust, Hauraki Kōwhao Rau will now miss out on the event.

Some 22 groups were originally set to perform at the Tainui Waka regionals, which would have enabled a sixth team to progress to Te Matatini next year at Te Kāhui Maunga in Taranaki.

But the trust told Aukaha News, “one group withdrew from performing, and another withdrew from the competitive component of the event.”

“The lesser than intended number of competitive kapa is regrettable, as it has adversely affected the progression of sixth placed Hauraki Kōwhao Rau, who made history with a powerful debut performance for the iwi of Hauraki.”

This means only groups which placed in the top five will move on to nationals, meaning Hauraki Kōwhao Rau will have to wait until at least 2027 for its next chance to compete in Te Matatini.

The Tainui Waka Kapa Haka Festival at the Globox Arena, Claudelands saw a record-breaking number of entries with 22 teams.

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