Te Kapa Haka o Te Toi Huarewa are newcomers to the kapa haka stage.
Established in 2015, the group was formed to provide experience and opportunity to rangatahi living in Waitaha and to instil in them the tikanga and values of te ao Māori. This year’s competition will be the first time the majority of the group’s performers will test their kap haka skills at the national level.
The group are led by kaitātahi wahine Pisivalu Pou Tulisi and kaitātahi tane Tamahou Thoms.
Te Kapa Haka o Te Toi Huarewa are tutored by Henare Te Aika-Puanaki, Anania Tawhi, Amber Tawhi and Tāwhiri Ruru.
The group describes their overall theme as one of connections, through whakapapa and stories, from Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe and Waitaha, to Ngāti kahungunu whānui.
This clip shows the group’s poi, entitled Te Kahu o Te Amorangi.