Two Eastern Bay schools are representing the Mātaatua region at this week’s Ngā Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua o Aotearoa national championships in Tauranga.

Ōpōtiki College and Te Wharekura o Rūātoki qualified for the event at last year’s regional secondary school kapa haka competition and join 40 top kapa haka from schools around the country vying for national honours.

Te Wharekura o Rūātoki enters the national competition as the reigning Mātaatua champions.

The event opened with a powhiri on Monday, which was attended by several Eastern Bay schools’ kapa haka.

Preliminary competition began yesterday and continues through to Friday with Kura Te Uta from Ōpōtiki College on stage at 6pm tomorrow and Te Wharekura o Rūātoki at 7.45pm.

The top nine rōpū will advance to the finals on Friday.

The competition celebrates excellence in kapa haka while strengthening te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and cultural identity among rangatahi.

It can be viewed live on Maori+.