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.media

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Facebook: / arataua

Website: https://www.arataua.nz

For all enquiries: [email protected]

00:00 - Highlights

00:44 - Introduction

03:54 - Waiata Tira

09:38 - Whakaeke

20:23 - Mōteatea

23:59 - Waiata ā ringa

33:36 - Te Taitāwhiti Recap

44:34 - TOP 12

In this episode of Haka Yarns, we have Tama Te Rerewa Koopu in the whare to wānanga the PERFECT kapa haka campaign… what does that look like? And, if you could have it your way, what’s the ideal road to Te Matatini?

Some of the key kōrero:

•⁠ ⁠When should the core team start planning and composing?

•⁠ ⁠The ideal time to begin campaign prep

•⁠ ⁠How often should kapa be practising?

•⁠ ⁠When should cuts take place?

•⁠ ⁠How should cuts be made?

•⁠ ⁠Performer vs tutor responsibilities throughout campaign

Whether you're a kaihaka, tutor, or just a bit nosey about what goes on behind the scenes, this one’s for you! 👀

Drop your whakaaro below: What does your ideal campaign look like?

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.media

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/arataua

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arataua/

Website: https://www.arataua.nz

For all enquiries: [email protected]

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 weekend

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.media

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/arataua

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arataua/

Website: https://www.arataua.nz

For all enquiries: [email protected]

E hoki whakamuri ana ki ngā mahi whakamīharo o Rangitāne, ā, ka anga whakamua ki Te Tauihu! We recap the Rangitāne Regionals and preview what’s to come at Kia Hūkere te Hoe in Te Tauihu. 👀🔥

What a weekend for Rangitāne!

Tama, Chey and Anipātene break down the results, standout moments and key kōrero from the weekend, including:

- A dead heat at the top between Te Tū Mataora and Te Tini o Rēhua: What was the tie breaker to decide the winner?

- Te Whirikōkō’s theatrical storytelling

- Anonymous judges feedback... what stood out and what separated the kapa?

THEN, it’s all eyes on Te Tau Ihu.

6 kapa, 2 competitive and BOTH heading to Te Matatini 2027!

We did our homework e te whānau! This week we had a hui with Te Tau Ihu delegate, Tom Alesana, to find out more about this rohe so if you don’t know much about our whanaunga at the top of the South Island, make sure you give this one a watch!

But, the real pātai is: Will Te Kuru Marutea bring us a new viral waiata? No pressure or anything 😂

Kia kaha ki ngā kapa katoa e tū ana - we’re here for it! 🔥

Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE e te whānau!

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

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.

Tainui Waka Regionals are HERE 🔥

23 kapa will take the stage, including 14 competitive rōpū all chasing one of just SIX spots at Te Matatini 👀

In this preview, we wānanga:

- How Waikato are preparing to host Te Matatini 2027

- Our Kaitātaki Tāne predictions for Mōtai Tangata Rau 👀

- Judges + some VERY interesting new additions to the disciplines

Plus, the rumour mill is strong e te whānau! We hear a certain MP is standing this year… and yes, we’ve got the tea ☕

And of course, we wrap with our PICKS! Who’s making the 6?

It’s shaping up to be a big weekend of kapa haka! Stay tuned for full recaps and kōrero after the regionals.

Ngā mihi ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#HakaYarns #TeMatatini #KapaHaka #TainuiWaka #māori #podcast

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 for

Pātuhi 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, Chey, Anipātene and Otene kōrero about iwi styles and what makes a kapa unique! Because you can always tell the ones who have truly owned their tāera.

We talk about:

- Historic styles

- The influence of kaiako and their creative direction

- Why leaning into your uniqueness can elevate your kapa

And.. Chey asks the pātai 👀 Favourite entrance of all time: What is it?

The Crew Cam jumps in too.

Kōrero mai - what’s your favourite entrance ever?

LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns!

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#hakayarns #kapahaka #māori #tematatini

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.

What a weekend in TTT!

There was a lot of discussion leading into the weekend about whether the whakataetae would go ahead but it did, and WOW. The kapa delivered.

This is a jam-packed kōrero with plenty of perspectives from across the day. We’ve got Kahurangi on Crew Cam, who judged Whakaeke and Poi at Te Tai Tokerau, and Otene Hopa, Tutor and Kaitātaki Tāne of Hātea, who placed 2nd over the weekend.

Chey watched alongside what felt like the entire rohe at a packed venue, while Ani tuned in via livestream from the comfort of her couch.

Together, we recap the regionals, go through the placings, and share some of the big highlights and moments from this year’s event.

As always, we wrap up with our Top 12 - the kapa we think could make a run towards Te Matangirua at Te Matatini 2027. But just a reminder, these are purely our guesses e te whānau! It’s all fun and games. Don’t come for us 😂

Massive mihi to all the kapa, whānau, and the organisers including the Waitangi Cultural Committee, for an awesome weekend of kapa haka.

Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns.

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#hakayarns #kapahaka #tetaitokerau #tereo #māori #tematatini