The chair of Tamaki Makaurau Kapahaka says the weekend's festival shows Maori performing arts remain a powerful way to bring contemporary issues to the fore.
Twenty-one teams took to the stage at Auckland's Aotea Centre over the two days, with their compositions canvassing issues such as the lack of Maori seats on the Auckland super-city council and the risks of drilling oil off the East Cape.
Ope Maxwell told Waatea News that waiata and haka have long been used to draw attention to issues of concern to Maori.
The first four places were taken by West Auckland teams Te Waka Huia, Tumanako and Te Manuhuia, with Ngapuhi group Te Taha Tu and Te Tai Tonga from Manurewa also winning their tickets to Te Matatini national finals in Gisborne next year.
