Haka Yarns

Kua hoki mai a Kereama! While he was away, the Te Arawa Kapa Haka Committee announced a change to the regionals results, confirming first equal placings between Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai and Ngāti Whakaue. Wiwiwiwiwi… te drama hoki! We react to the news, and we ask: He aha pea ētahi akoranga? What can we learn from this? Then we head to Te Whenua Moemoeā! This weekend, three kapa will qualify for Te Matatini. We preview the comp and go through all the kapa going head to head. A big wānanga not to be missed! Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns. Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko. #hakayarns #kapahaka #tematatini #maori #tereo #kapahakalife #indigenous #tereoMāori #māorimedia #kapahakacommunity

Arguably one of the biggest pressures we face as kaihaka in te ao kapa haka! 👀 Why do people choose their kapa? Is it about whakapapa? Opportunity? Growth? What does loyalty really mean? And when does it become waka jumping? We wānanga the expectations placed on kaihaka, from whānau ties to progression, to the pressure of staying put. PLUS what's the difference between kapa-ā-iwi and karapu? Chey gives his perspective. Let us know your whakaaro in the comments! Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns. Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko. #māori #kapahaka #hakayarns #māori #tematatini #indigenous #aratauamedia

We’re 1 day away from TE ARAWA REGIONALS 🔥 and it’s safe to say things have been boiling away in our tari… The weekend we’ve been anticipating the most as a team of Te Arawa kaihaka! Can Ngāti Whakaue (Kereama & Anipātene) defend their crown? Or will Ngāti Rangiwewehi (Chey & Kahu) take the reins this year? Maybe it’s the year for Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao (Hapi) who placed 2nd in 2024? Or will Te Hikuwai (Tamihana) come through with a surprise? We go through the teams competing, what we know, and what we can predict heading into the weekend. We also take a look at the judging panel, revisit the 2024 results, and then… We give our PICKS. 👀 Who you got? Name your 6 in the comments! Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns. Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko. #kapahaka #hakayarns #tematatini #māori #indigenous #aratauamedia

A new champion has been crowned at Te Kāhui Maunga Regionals… and what a weekend it was! For everyone who missed him, Chey is back! In this episode of Haka Yarns, the crew unpack the results, the performances that stood out, and the razor-thin margin that decided the winners. E mihi ana li Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru! We also share anonymous judge insights, honour some standout moments from across the weekend, and take a look at how the Top 12 for Te Matatini 2027 is shaping up (our blackboard, that is). PLUS - Haka Yarns gets a special mention at the pōhiri…? 👀 Our whakaaro on that. Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns. Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāhō i ēnei pūtea tautoko. #kapahaka #hakayarns #māori #tematatini #indigenous #aratauamedia

Back again with Anipātene, Kereama and Te Wehi and this time, we head to Te Kāhui Maunga as the rohe prepares for their upcoming regionals! With 13 kapa competing for just 4 qualifying spots, the pressure is ON! The crew break it down - which teams should we be looking out for? Who are the judges on the panel this year? And who are they picking to go through? We also get into a wānanga about one of the toughest challenges in kapa haka… the pressure of defending a title. Can the reigning champions Te Reanga Morehu o Ratana hold their ground? Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns! Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāhō i ēnei pūtea tautoko. #kapahaka #māori #competition #indigenous #aratauamedia

The dust has settled after the Mātaatua Regionals… but the kōrero is just getting started! In this episode of Haka Yarns, we recap the results, the standout performances, the surprises, and we take a look at the reason defending champions Te Whānau a Apanui had a 5 point deduction, placing them 6th overall. Joining us in the whare is seasoned kaihaka and MC Te Wehi Preston, sitting down with Anipātene and Kereama. No Chey this week (& his FOMO is real). We reflect on the competition and ask the big question… were anyone’s predictions actually right? 😅 We also get into a side of kapa haka that doesn’t always get talked about: the art of MCing. What actually makes a good MC? What’s the pressure like holding it all together across an entire weekend? According to Te Wehi… it’s not as easy as it looks. And Kereama reignites an old debate... should Tauranga have its own regional kapa haka competition? 👀 Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns! Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāhō i ēnei pūtea tautoko. #kapahaka #māori #competition #indigenous #aratauamedia

In this wānanga, we check out results from the last Mātaatua Regionals - what actually went down in 2024? 👀 And are we about to see a repeat… or a reset? Then… we put our reputations on the line. We lock in our PICKS. No fence sitting here. Even the crew cam gets involved! 😅 Who qualifies? Who’s on the edge? And who could completely shake up the rohe this year? We get into the nitty-gritty! Want more HAKA YARNS? Subscribe to the Arataua Youtube channel. Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāhō i ēnei pūtea tautoko #kapahaka #māori #competition #indigenous #aratauamedia

We preview Mātaatua Regionals 2026 ahead of the big whakataetae this weekend! 14 kapa go head-to-head for just 6 spots at Te Matatini. Who will bring it? 👀 From defending champions to fresh, youthful lineups… from 30-year anniversaries to kapa returning after decades away from Te Matatini, this weekend is STACKED. No Anipātene this week sadly so it’s up to Chey and Kereama to hold the kōrero and give the people what they want… “just like old times” they reckon! 😂 Enjoy our full breakdown of Mātaatua Kapa Haka! And let us know your PICKS in the comments! New episodes drop every Wednesday & Thursday. Subscribe for more #HAKAYARNS ❤️‍🔥

Alright, let’s talk kapa haka judging! In this wānanga, we pick the brains of Te Matatini judge Ruakiri Fairhall (who was also Head Judge at the Tākitimu Regionals), and get a straight-up masterclass on what really happens behind the scenes. We get into: •⁠ ⁠What Matatoki actually does (and doesn’t do) •⁠ ⁠Challenging marks when scores and comments don’t line up •⁠ ⁠Judging eligibility + conflict of interest And then the big kaupapa… If not every kapa makes Te Matatini, how do we keep growing, evolving and keeping the ahi alive between competitions? Has Te Matatini become the only measure of success? This one’s a proper wānanga. LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns!

Let’s recap Tākitimu Regionals! 🔥 From the fresh wave of rangatahi stepping up to the seasoned kaihaka across the stage, Russell Park was alive! In this episode, we’re lucky to be joined by kaiwhakawā, Ruakiri Fairhall. We talk: •⁠ ⁠Standout moments •⁠ ⁠Crowd, venue & atmosphere highlights •⁠ ⁠Results (aggregate + non-aggregate) •⁠ ⁠Anonymous judge feedback •⁠ ⁠Honourable mentions & our Top 12 PLUS, we wānanga the broadcast sound issues 👀 and what happens when the livestream doesn’t quite hit the mark. Is there a better way forward? Let’s kōrero! Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more HAKA YARNS. #HakaYarns #Tākitimu #KapaHaka #TeMatatini #Regionals

Regionals season has officially entered the chat! 💥 Tākitimu waka, we see you. 14 kapa. 4 tickets to Te Matatini. One ratio rule that still has everyone talking 👀 In wahanga tuarua of Haka Yarns we: 🔥 Break down the rōpū 🔥 Drop our 2026 Top 4 predictions 🔥 Debate the Te Matatini ratio rule Whakamōhio mai: Have you been to Tākitimu regionals? What shifts are you seeing in the rohe? Let’s wānanga! Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more weekly HAKA YARNS!

Haka Yarns is BACK, e te whānau! And, this season is looking 🔥! We'll be dropping two episodes a week every Wednesday and Thursday, and diving headfirst into te ao kapa haka - from Regional comp previews and results to what's going on offstage and behind the scenes 👀 This is a wānanga space for those haka nuts who LIVE and BREATHE kapa haka! In this first episode, we: •⁠ ⁠Share our whakaaro on the Te Pāti Māori manawawera last week at Waitangi •⁠ ⁠Break down our 2026 Regional Kapa Haka Competitions •⁠ ⁠Unpack the latest Te Matatini rule changes PLUS we talk about what it really means to choose a kapa haka today. Is it all about whakapapa and loyalty… or is there more to it? Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more weekly HAKA YARNS!

Haka Yarns is BACK! In this special episode, we're talking Kura Tuarua kapa haka and all the latest Te Matatini updates. Of course, it wouldn’t be Haka Yarns without Chey, Kereama & Anipātene sharing their straight-up opinions about all things haka. Also joining the kōrero are two talented rangatahi voices - Atareta Milne and Manawapōhatu McGarvey-Borell! Make sure to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more! 00:00 Intro 04:22 Te Matatini Updates 24:17 Top 5 Haka Highlights 33:13 Tiya Blake-Ohlsen / Kaiako - Manukura 40:52 Haka Feels / Te Arawa Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua Regionals 44:32 Atareta Milne and Manawapōhatu McGarvey-Borell

Haka Yarns is BACK for a one-off episode. Unpack the MASSIVE week that was TE MATATINI O TE KĀHUI MAUNGA with Chey, Kereama and Anipātene! We're lucky enough to have Matua Duncan in the whare keeping us in line 😉🏆 Nau mai te wānanga! 00:00 Intro 01:25 Pool 1 13:55 Pool 2 22:17 Pool 3 22:50 Ngāti Whakaue 27:22 TOA 32:07 Pool 4 44:00 Pool Systems? 45:44 Matangirua 01:05:00 Online Questions