Regional winners, Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Puku o te Ika ā Maui was established in 1998 and was the ninth group to take the stage today.
Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Puku o te Ika ā Maui is one of the four groups representing the Te Arawa region, all of which will be competing against each other in pool C.
This year the group is made up of students from various schools including Te Kura o Ruamatā, Hurungaterangi, Te Wharekura o Tauranga Moana and Te Kura o Whakarewa i te reo ki Tūwharetoa.
The group has had guidance from a number of tutors including Te Rangihau Whauwhau, Tanawhea Whauwhau, Puao Whauwhau and Kereama Wright.
On stage, the group were led by kaitātaki tāne Te Moa Panapa and kaitātaki wahine Kahumako Rameka.
The item the rōpū have chosen to share is their whakawātea “Tāwharautia ngā tamariki”. With 15 children killed last year, many of which were killed by their own family members, this item has a strong message, urging to put an end to child abuse in Aotearoa.