Photo by Ken Baker
TAIRAWHITI senior kapa haka teams heading to Te Matatini next year were announced at the weekend after a two-day Tamararo festival involving the largest number of groups in the annual competition's history.
Whangara mai Tawhiti were declared the 2010 regional kapa haka champions at the festival prizegiving on Saturday night. It is the second year in a row the group have won Tamararo.
Manutuke team Tu Te Manawa Maurea were second.
Waihirere, Te Hokowhitu Atu, Te Whanau a Kai and newcomers to the kapa haka competition stage Te Aitanga a Hauiti ki Uawa are also heading to the Te Matatini Festival 2011 at Gisborne's Waiohika Estate, from February 17-20.
Whangara mai Tawhiti were national champions at Palmerston North in 2007 and second-place winners at Te Matatini in Tauranga last year.