Judging
Fifty-one judges have been selected to judge kapa haka performances at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga Festival 2025 as teams compete for the title of national champion.
Nga Kaiwhiriwhiri –The Judges
Kaiwhiriwhiri Matua
Dr Turuhira Hare
Tūhoe, Te Arawa
Matatoki
Paora Sharples
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou
Matatoki
Charlie Rahiri
Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Paoa
Matatoki
Te Ara Vakaafi
Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Arawa
Matatoki
Rhonda Tibble
Ngāti Porou
Whakaeke
Rev Dr Te Hira Paenga
Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu
Whakaeke
Janis de Thierry
Ngā iwi e waru o Te Tauihu, Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi
Whakaeke
Pakake Winiata
Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Awa anō hoki.
Whakaeke
Kelly Henare-Heke
Waikato, Rereahu
Mōteatea
Paora Brosnan
Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa
Mōteatea
Tapeka Henare
Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Tai Tokerau
Mōteatea
Rangi Te Whiu Jury
Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Wainui ā Rua
Mōteatea
Ngarimu Parata
Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu
Waiata a Ringa
Heeni Kereru
Ngāi Tahu, Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri
Waiata a Ringa
Te Rangi Hemi
Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahinerangi
Waiata a Ringa
Thomas Parata
Te Whānau ā Apanui
Waiata a Ringa
Raymond Kaiki
Ngāti Maniapoto, Taranaki
Poi
Leanne Morehu
Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāi Tai ki Tōrere
Poi
Dr Donna Morrison
Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Rangiwewehi
Poi
Te Atarangi Whiu
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Maniapoto
Poi
Miri Morrison Hare
Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Haka Patuheuheu, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rārua ki Te Waipounamu
Haka
Tei Nohotima
Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Tairāwhiti, Mataatua
Haka
Watson Ohia
Te Atiawa, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pukenga
Haka
Mark Pirikahu
Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Whanganui
Haka
Ruki Tobin
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Whātua
Whakawātea
Tūhoe Huata
Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Tūhoe
Whakawātea
Anthony de Thierry
Ngāti Unu, Pāoa, Maniapoto me Waikato
Whakawātea
Haani Huata-Allen
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao
Whakawātea
Jojo Rangihaeata
Ngāti Konohi, Ngāti Ruanui
Te Kairangi o te Reo
Chris Winitana
Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūwharetoa
Te Kairangi o te Reo
Dr Petina Winiata
Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maru
Te Kairangi o te Reo
Dr Rawiri Tinirau
Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Rangi, Ngā Rauru Kītahi, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Te Kairangi o te Reo
Ngaringi Katipa
Waikato-Maniapoto, Raukawa ki te Kaokaoroa o Patetere
Titonga Mōteatea
Yolande Tipuna
Tauranga Moana, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu
Titonga a Ringa
Keita Whakaipo Tuhi
Ngāti Hinemanu, Ngāi Te Upokoiri, Ngāti Mahuika
Titonga Mōteatea
Georgina Kerekere
Ngāti Porou, Te Tairāwhiti
Titonga a Ringa
Kahurangi Simon
Ngā Paerangi, Te Wainui a Rua, Taranaki, Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi
Titonga Poi
Alexia Hukarere
Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngai Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whānau a Apanui, Māhaki, Tainui
Titonga Poi
Robyn Hata-Gage
Whakatōhea, Te Whānau ā Apanui, Tūhoe, Tūwharetoa
Titonga Haka
Reimana Tutengaehe
No Tauranga Moana, ko Ngāi Te Rangi te Iwi
Titonga Haka
Dr Haturini McGarvey
Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau ā Apanui
Waiata Tira
Shanell Wallace
Ngā Rauru, Te Atiawa, Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Kahungunu
Waiata Tira
Ruakiri Fairhall
Ngāti Tarāwhai, Te Arawa, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe
Kākahu
Tina Maree Kaipara-Winitana
Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Muriwhenua
Kākahu
Mark Kopua
Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Ira, Ngāti Porou
Manukura Wahine
Huia Hahunga
Ngāti Rangiwewehi
Manukura Wahine
Ngā Hiriwa Tai Tin
Te Ūpokoiri, Ngāti Mārau, Kāti Māmoe
Manukura Tāne
Hohua Mohi
Ngāti Rangiwewehi
Manukura Tāne
Joe Harawira
Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Awa, Maniapoto, Tūhourangi
Te Tuhi a Reo
Leon Blake
Tūhoe, Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Aotea
Te Tuhi a Reo
Teraania Ormsby
Ngā Pāpaka o Rangataua, Tauranga Moana
How Judges are selected
The process of selecting judges is careful and thorough, with 13 regions nominating candidates who are highly qualified, impartial, experienced in performing and in the intricacies of the respective kapa haka disciplines.
Each rohe submits a list of judges and the first and second choices of judges from each rohe are automatically appointed to their preferred discipline. If there is a shortage of judges in a specific discipline, further judges from the rohe lists are then considered.
Judges scores and comments will be entered into an automated system, which will identify the three teams from each pool with the highest marks to go through to the finals.
Judging then starts over again to find Te Toa Whakaihuwaka - the best kapa haka overall in seven compulsory disciplines: whakaeke (entrance), mōteatea (traditional chant), waiata ā-ringa (action song), poi (song with poi), haka, whakawātea (exit) and te kairangi o te reo (excellence in Māori language).
Trophies are also awarded to the winners of each discipline, and for the best choral, male and female leader, costume, and original compositions.
Competition Rules
These competition rules have been approved by the National Board for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga, He Kāhui Tupua, He Kāhui Wairua.
