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Nationwide kapa haka competitions began with the inaugural Polynesian Festival, held in Rotorua in 1972. Seventeen kapa haka, plus six groups from other Polynesian cultures, took part. Bad weather forced the competitors indoors. This photo shows the overall winners, the Gisborne-based group Waihīrere, led by Ngāpō (Bub) Wehi. The event was professionally recorded, and highlights were later released by Kiwi Records on a commercial LP.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Margaret Parry Collection (PA-Group-00238)
Reference: PAColl-8969-3
by Margaret Parry
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.