The first group from the host region Waitaha, Te Pao a Tahu, have taken to the stage this morning of Day 1 at Te Matatini 2015, following yesterday's moving welcoming ceremony. The group tutors are Corban Te Aika, Ana Buchanan and Henare Te Aika-Puanaki, and leading this year are Corban Te Aika and Ana Buchanan. Te Pao a Tahu made their debut just last year at the Waitaha Regional Kapa Haka competition, and won third place to qualify for this year's Te Matatini. Te Pao a Tahu originated out of a strong desire to strengthen the Ngāi Tahu presence and mana in kapa haka at all levels. Corban and Ana explained once off the stage this morning, they will have a kai, a short rest, then the team will be out and about looking after their manuhiri, the multitudes who have come to Christchurch this week.

Te Matatini 2015. Every two years, Te Matatini organises the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival, where top kapa haka teams from New Zealand and Australia compete for the honour of being crowned the best of the best. The festival started in 1972 and is now the world’s largest celebration of Māori traditional performing arts, attracting over 30,000 performers, supporters and visitors. The competition is held over four days with 45 teams split into three pools, Te Ihu, Te Haumi and Te Kei. The three teams with the highest combined marks from each pool will compete in the competition finals. The nine finalists are then judged afresh to determine the new Toa Whakaihuwaka - overall agreggate winner. Kapa haka teams are required to perform six disciplines within their performance piece - whakaeke (a choreographed entry), mōteatea (traditional chant), poi (light ball swung on the end of a rope), waiata-ā-ringa (action song), haka and whakawātea (exit). They must perfect every discipline in a polished 30 minute performance.