The competition pool line up for Te Matatini o Ngā Taniwha 2027 where 57 kapa haka will compete for the national title has been announced.
Te Arikinui, Kuini Nga wai hono I te po, Patron of Te Matatini hosted the live draw on Saturday at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia.
Qualifying kapa haka representing 13 different regions have been allocated slots across four performance pools, Te Ihu, Te Haumi, Te Awa and Te Kei.
Three kapa from each of the four pool performance days will be selected to advance to Te Matangireia, the finals day where the next national champions will be named.
Te Matatini Chairman, Tā Herewini Parata congratulated all qualifying kapa haka, highlighting their dedication and commitment to championing te ao Māori.
"These qualifying kapa haka embody the very best of their hapū, marae and iwi traditional and contemporary performing arts. They captivate audiences here at home and around the world.
We've seen the influence on the world stage at the recent Commonwealth Games, for example, where our athletes celebrate with a haka following winning performances, where supporters wield poi, which shows our cultural tradition has become embedded in the psyche of Aotearoa New Zealand."
In 2025 Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue from Te Arawa waka won the title of Toa Whakaihuwaka - the champions of Te Matatini.
Second place went to from Ngāti Rangiwēwehi - also from Te Arawa - while third went to Ngā Tumanako from Tāmaki Makaurau.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-ao-maori/543424/te-kapa-haka-o-ngati-whakaue-have-won-the-title-of-toa-whakaihuwaka-the-champions-of-te-matatini
Parata also acknowledged the significant growth in popularity of the competition since its inception, 54 years ago.
"In 1972, the inaugural New Zealand Polynesian festival was held at Rotowhio, Rotorua with just 17 kapa haka teams taking to the stage. Over the decades, the festival has evolved in both name and stature and become what we know today as Te Matatini the largest celebration of kapa haka excellence in the world."
Te Matatini o Ngā Taniwha will be hosted by Tainui in the Waikato region in 2027 from Tuesday 23 February to Saturday 27 February.