Haka Yarns

Ever wondered how? 👀Here's a look at what goes into making Haka Yarns each week!With the regional season now wrapped up, we're taking you behind the scenes of our final shoot and sharing some of the moments you don't normally get to see.Want to see more content like this? Let us know, e te whānau!Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE...#kapahaka #podcast #nzpodcast #māori #hakayarns #bts #show #studio

The regional season has officially come to an end! Join us for our recap of Haka Mai 2026 from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, where 13 kapa battled it out for the final four qualifying spots at Te Matatini 2027.BIG MIHI to our qualifiers:Te Kapa Haka o PukeatuaTū Te MaungaroaTe Pū Toi KuraNgā Tai WhiringaWe break down the standout performances from across the competition, including the rise of Te Pū Toi Kura, the innovative approach of Ngā Tai Whiringa, the powerful return of Tū Te Maungaroa, and the championship-winning campaign of Te Kapa Haka o Pukeatua.We also reflect on the end of an era for Ngā Taonga Mai Tawhiti who miss Te Matatini qualification for the first time since the kapa was established in 2006, and we discuss the growing strength of the kapa haka movement across Te Whanganui-a-Tara.PLUS... we share our thoughts on Tērā te Auahi, the latest theatre production by Te Whare Tapere o Te Arawa. An incredible showcase of talent, innovation and storytelling.The kōrero then turns to the future of kapa haka. How can our artform continue to evolve? What needs to change to ensure we're consistently producing world-class performances, creativity, and that undeniable X-factor? The future is exciting… but where do we go next?A huge mihi to all the kaihaka, kaiako, kaitito, kaiwhakatangi and kaitautoko who have carried us through another incredible regional season.Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE e te whānau!Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho mō ēnei pūtea tautoko.#HakaYarns #HakaMai #KapaHaka #TeMatatini2027

The long-awaited wrap-up of Waitaha Regionals is here! A BIG MIHI to all of our loyal viewers who have been waiting for this one to drop!In this episode, we unpack the biggest talking points coming out of the comp…First up, we address the social media kōrero that sparked strong reactions across the kapa haka community.Then we get into a full recap of the competition, including Te Ahikaaroa's standout performance and success across multiple sections, as well as the campaigns of Kōkō Tangiwai, Ngā Manu a Tāne, Rukutia and Te Pao a Tahu.We hear from Chey and Kahurangi who were at Waitaha as judges. They share their insights, observations and reflections from the weekend that was.Heaps of whakaaro packed into this episode e te whānau! Not to be missed. 🔥LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns!Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

🔥 Tāmaki Makaurau delivered some fierce competition! E mihi ana ki ngā kapa katoa i tū!But it was Angi-who? Angitu! who came away as winners.Anipātene, Chey and the Crew Cam talk final placings, tight scoring, the performances that had us glued to the screen, anonymous judges feedback and inside scoop. You won’t want to miss this recap!Six kapa qualified for Te Matatini and we reflect on the standout moments.Tamihana was at the venue and he gives us the lowdown on the running of the event plus what it felt like actually being there!We also look at our Haka Yarns Top 12 - who makes the cut now? Just remember it’s all fantasy, e te whānau! Don’t @ us 😂Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns!#HakaYarns #KapaHaka #TeMatatini #TāmakiMakaurau #Māori #TeReoMāori #MāoriMedia

This week on Haka Yarns, Anipātene, Chey and Kereama kick off the ultimate Haka Yarns Fantasy Bracket 👀🔥We’re starting with the classics - Waiata Tira, Whakaeke, Mōteatea and Waiata-ā-ringa - as each presenter brings in their favourite items of all time to battle it out for a spot in the ultimate fantasy lineup. From iconic throwbacks to unforgettable moments that shaped the kapa haka world, these are the performances that still live rent free in our heads.But here’s the twist… our cam crew get the final say on who the best is 👀 Who deserves to make the Haka Yarns Fantasy Bracket? Jump into the comments and back your favourites.We also reflect on last week’s Te Tairāwhiti Tamararo regionals, unpacking the results, standout performances, big moments from the stage, and which qualifying kapa have earned a place in the Haka Yarns TOP 12 🔥Expect hot takes, nostalgia, debates, and plenty of haka yarns.Like, comment and subscribe for more Haka Yarns every week.Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.Connect with us: Instagram: @arataua.mediaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/aratauaFacebook: / arataua Website: https://www.arataua.nzFor all enquiries: info@arataua.nz00:00 - Highlights00:44 - Introduction 03:54 - Waiata Tira09:38 - Whakaeke20:23 - Mōteatea23:59 - Waiata ā ringa33:36 - Te Taitāwhiti Recap44:34 - TOP 12

This week, Kereama returns to the pae kōrero and we revisit the Te Pae Kahurangi haka, the accusations of racism that followed, and the story he was first to break.Then, we recap Te Tau Ihu 🔥 From final placings to standout moments and anonymous judges feedback!We also wānanga one of the biggest talking points in te ao kapa haka right now… Do the current Te Matatini qualifying ratios reflect the top kapa in the motu? Is the system serving our regions fairly? Drop your whakaaro below - do you agree?To wrap up, we turn our attention to Te Tairāwhiti and preview the weekend ahead.We wānanga:- Our favourite performers- Predicted placings- The judging panel- Key kōrero ahead of the weekendLike, comment and subscribe for more Haka Yarns every week.Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.Connect with us: Instagram: @arataua.mediaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/aratauaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/arataua/Website: https://www.arataua.nzFor all enquiries: info@arataua.nz

PLENTY to wānanga about after the Tainui Waka Regionals! 👀Joining Anipātene and Chey on the Haka Yarns couch is Tama Te Rerewa Koopu (Tauira Mai Tawhiti), who grew up in the Waikato - straight out of Rāhui Pōkeka!In this episode, we break down:•⁠ ⁠The RESULTS - who’s heading to Te Matatini? 🏆 •⁠ ⁠Standout kapa from the weekend•⁠ ⁠Kapa who picked up deductions - what happened?•⁠ ⁠The emcee everyone’s talking about 👀Plus, our whakaaro on the big moments:•⁠ ⁠Awhina i te Kaupapa - first timers and with Hana-Rawhiti Maipi in the mix!•⁠ ⁠Te Iti Kahurangi - Kingi Kiriona to contest the Hauraki-Waikato seat 👀•⁠ ⁠Te Pae Kahurangi and THAT haka 👀 what do we think?Pātuhi mai e hoa mā! Let us know your whaakaro. We’ll be picking one lucky winner from the comments each week to receive exclusive Haka Yarns merch!Stay tuned for more recaps, reactions and all things kapa haka!Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

The Rangitāne Kapa Haka Regionals are heading to Palmerston North this Saturday 🔥With THREE kapa in the competition and THREE spots to Te Matatini on the line, it’s not about qualification… it’s about who takes the win 👀In this preview, we break down:•⁠ ⁠The competing kapa in the rohe•⁠ ⁠What to expect from each group•⁠ ⁠The judging panel and what they’ll be looking forPātuhi mai: Give us your placings! How will this play out?It’s shaping up to be a MASSIVE weekend of kapa haka. Stay tuned for our Tainui Waka Regionals episode dropping tomorrow!Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns 🔥Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.#hakayarns #kapahaka #māori #tematatini #fluent #podcast

In this wānanga, we get into the reality of burnout in te ao kapa haka: what it is, why it happens, and when it might be time to step back.From the pressure of intense schedules to the creative strain on kaitito, kaihaka and tutors, we have a kōrero about the real load people are carrying behind the scenes.We also dive into the FOMO and the fear of losing momentum or missing out if you take a break.We even ask the big pātai: Should Te Matatini be every 3 years instead of 2? What would that change?And then… what’s the rongoā? Do we need to harden up? Work smarter? Or rethink how we operate altogether?He kaupapa nui tēnei and we want to hear from you!💬 Drop your whakaaro in the comments e te whānau.LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns!Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

And that’s how you WIN! Whuuuu! Te Kahu Ariki dominated at the Aussie Kapa Haka Competition last weekend and we’re here to recap it all!This week we’re joined on the couch by Otene Hopa, kaitātaki of Hātea, who has long been involved in kapa haka in Ahitereiria. Together, we break down the results, share our thoughts and talk about the growth of kapa haka in Australia over the last few years because it has been MASSIVE. Sending a BIG mihi to all of the kapa who did their thing over the weekend!We also preview ASB Polyfest – Te Paparewa Māori, happening this week. We can’t wait to see all of our rangatahi take the stage over four days of performances.Āpōpō, we recap Te Tai Tokerau Regionals so make sure you’re back here, at 8pm.E te whānau, LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns.Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.#hakayarns #kapahaka #tematatini #asbpolyfest #tereoMāori #māori #kapahaka 00:00 - Intro02:43 - Aus Recap0⁠5:55 - Results10:02 - Top 3 Debrief 12:06 - Te Hau Tawhiti14:04 - Te Kahu Ariki21:14 - Te Matatini Wānanga25:26 - Polyfest Wānanga

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

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

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