13/09/2026
🔥 THEY CAME TO STAND. THEY CAME TO REPRESENT. THEY CAME TO LEAVE THEIR MARK. 🔥
Te Wairua o Maata Waka - FLAVA Festival 2026.
The journey to this stage was not an easy one.
Earlier in their journey, Te Wairua o Maata Waka experienced a significant change in numbers. What remained was a smaller group of tauira facing what, at times, must have felt like an enormous task ahead of them.
But this is where their story truly began.
Those who remained chose to stay, to stand, and to carry the mantle forward.
They took responsibility for the kaupapa they had committed themselves to and, rather than allowing the loss of numbers to diminish what they could achieve, they rallied around one another. They connected more deeply, trusted one another, worked harder and became stronger together.
Every person mattered. Every voice mattered. Every position on that stage mattered.
What emerged was an incredibly tight-knit rōpū, bound together by commitment, resilience and a shared determination to honour those who had begun the journey alongside them, while taking ownership of the responsibility now resting on their own shoulders.
They may have been smaller in number, but they were not smaller in presence.
And when they stepped onto that stage at Arowhenua, they proved something powerful:
Strength is not measured by how many stand beside you, it is measured by the mana, courage and conviction of those who choose to remain standing.
Te Wairua o Maata Waka stood with ihi, wehi and wana, carrying the hours of mahi, the challenges overcome and the strength of their collective into every kupu, every movement and every waiata.
And that mahi was recognised with:
🏆 Kaea Tuakana Award – Most Outstanding Secondary School Male Lead – Thomas Stephens-Tāhuri
🏆 Tuakana Kapa Haka Award – Most Outstanding Secondary School Kapa Haka Performance
We could not be prouder of every tauira who stood on that stage and gave everything they had. Te Wairua o Maata Waka - you represented Ashburton College with mana.
Behind every stand is a team of people whose mahi is not always seen from the audience, but whose contribution is woven through everything that happens on that stage.
He mihi maioha tēnei ki a koutou katoa - Sonia-Leigh Stephens-Tāhuri, Nikki Tupaea, Revi Maeva, Raurangatira Tupaea, Rongomai Heke, Ngahuia Maeva, Tamati Stephens me Mārie Maeva.
Thank you for the countless hours, the practices, the organisation, the tautoko, the encouragement, the problem-solving, and for continuing to show up for our rangatahi throughout what has been a challenging but incredibly rewarding journey.
When the numbers changed, you stayed too. You stood alongside our tauira, helped hold the kaupapa steady, and continued to believe in what this small but mighty rōpū could achieve. The strength, connection and confidence witnessed on that stage did not happen by accident - it was nurtured through the collective mahi, aroha and commitment of the people working alongside them.
This achievement belongs to you too. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou - your mahi, your time and your dedication to our rangatahi are deeply appreciated.
A special acknowledgement also goes to our Ngā Mokopuna o Ngā Awa e Whā, who made their own FLAVA Festival debut in 2026, taking to the stage in the non-competitive section for the first time. For many of these tauira, this was a new step in their kapa haka journey, an opportunity to stand together, grow in confidence, strengthen their connection to kapa haka and proudly represent Ashburton College. We are incredibly proud of you all and cannot wait to see where this journey takes you next.
A huge mihi and congratulations also goes to Hampstead School, who made their FLAVA Festival debut in 2026 and collected some amazing tohu to top it off. An awesome milestone for their kura and tamariki, and another exciting step in the continued growth of kapa haka here in Hakatere.
And congratulations to Ashburton Intermediate, who retained the Overall Aggregate Winners Trophy for 2026 - an outstanding achievement and testament to the mahi of their tauira, kaiako and whānau.
To all the kura, tauira, kaiako, kaitātaki, whānau and supporters who continue to strengthen kapa haka across Hakatere and beyond - tēnā koutou katoa.
Small in number. Immense in presence. United in purpose.
🔥 Ko Te Wairua o Maata Waka tēnei. 🔥
