Ōpōtiki and the East Coast will be strongly represented at this 2026 Mātaatua Senior Regional Kapa Haka Competition beginning tomorrow at Te Kāeaea o Taiwhakaea, Rugby Park, in Whakatāne.

On Friday, nine whakangahau rōpū will perform with the big guns – the whakataetae rōpū – taking to the stage on Saturday to compete for a place at Te Matatini in 2027.

Hosts and defending champions Te Whānau-a-Apanui will open the programme at 9am, hoping for a third successive win at regional level.

Others local rōpū will follow with Waioweka on stage at 9.37am, Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti at 10.51am, Te Whānau o Tutawake at 3.24pm, Tauira Mai Tawhiti at 4.01pm, Te Taumata o Apanui at 4.51pn and Te Whakatōhea at 5.29pm.

With 14 whakataetae entries from rōpū who whakapapa to Mātaatua waka, competition is expected to be fierce.

This is a whānau-friendly event with kai, merchandise for sale and a range of stalls.

The last regionals held in Torere in 2024 attracted an audience of up to 10,000 people and organisers are expecting similar support this year.

Māori+ and Whakaata Māori will be livestreaming all the regional competitions, with viewers needing to login to the app first.