Te Hautoka 2025

Te Hautoka is the Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition - Ōtākou/ Murihiku 🌀

Te Hautoka’s primary objective is to celebrate and encourage excellence in Te Reo Māori and Māori Performing Arts. This is one of the premier Māori events competitive Kapa Haka in Otago and Southland.

First and second placed teams qualify for the National Secondary School Kapa Haka Competition, hosted in Tauranga next year.

Te Wharekura o Arowhenua - Winners of Te Hautoka 2025

This year Te Ohu Hautoka, hosted the Bi-Annual regional competition in the More FM Arena, Edgar Centre, Dunedin. There were over 1000 people who came to watch and support these Kapa throughout the day.

This is the most well attended Hautoka that we have had to date, with a record-breaking 14 rōpū representing 29 different kura from around our rohe!

The groups are competing for two spots that are available for next year’s National Competition, held in Tauranga.

It was great to see the local community getting involved and supporting Rangatahi Māori and our Culture.

It is through Kapa Haka that relationships are developed with our rangatahi and whānau, it is here that they are able to identify their strengths in order to help them grow. Rangatahi who are part of kapa haka learn cultural competency, te reo Māori, they grow confidence in Māori performance, coordination, timing, commitment and teamwork. They learn Māori values, Māori tikanga, Māori identity and the obligations that tangata whenua carry as kaitiaki of their lands.

The purpose of the competition is to come together as Māori, share pūrākau, whakaaro as well as all of the important traits listed above. Typically this is all displayed in a 30 minute competitive bracket which demonstrates discipline, fitness, timing, teamwork, Poi, Haka and Waiata. Traditional forms of weaponry like Mau Rākau, Tī Rākau and patu can also be incorporated within a performance. These disciplines require hours of commitment and dedication to master and the efforts of the kapa were all showcased on the stage.

ADD - HWK PHOTOS, TE MATAHĪAPO (Second and Third Place *

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The overall placings for Te Hautoka were as follows:

3rd: Te Matahīapo

(Waitaki Girls and Boys High School, St Kevins College, East Otago High School, Hampden Intermediate School)

2nd: He Waka Kōtuia

(Kings and Queens High School, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti)

1st: Te Kapa Haka o Te Wharekura o Arowhenua

(Te Wharekura o Arowhenua)

He Waka Kōtuia will be accompanying Te Wharekura o Arowhenua in representing Ōtākou/Murihiku at Ngā Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua o Aotearoa in Tauranga, next year.

We must also acknowledge our generous sponsors, without their support this event would not have been able to happen; Otago Community Trust, Department of Interal Affairs, Kotahi Mano Kāika, Tahu FM, He Waka Kōtuia Trust and Waitaha Cultural Council.

A special mention also to Tahu FM who captured live footage of the groups, Gravity Events, Southern Lights, Dunedin Venues and the More FM/ Edgar Centre.