There were two regional kapa haka competitions held on Waitangi Day.
In Nelson, the Te Tau Ihu Regional Competition saw Te Whatukura qualify as the region's sole representative at next year's Te Matatini festival. Across the Cook Strait to the Hawke's Bay, the Ngāti Kahungunu Regionals were held where four teams qualified for Te Matatini.
Te Rerenga Kōtuku have long held the top spot at the Ngāti Kahungunu regionals. Once again they managed to take the top spot this year.
Their leader JB Smith says, "The most important thing for us of Te Rerenga Kōtuku is that we've achieved our goal of performing and showing our people what we're all about."
Pareārau, a team originally formed in 2006 as a non-competition group, placed second.
To the team made up of whānau who represent TKKM o Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga.
Ngāti Ranginui, who competed at Te Matatini in Rotorua last year, they must ready themselves once again for the nationals in Christchurch next year.
To date, there are eight teams who have qualified to represent their regions at next year's national competition.
The next regional kapa haka competition will be the Mataatua regionals at the end of the month.