Despite a number of teams being severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, 45 of them will still perform at this week's national kapa haka festival, Te Matatini, in Auckland.
But it's been a tough journey, especially for those who have been affected by the cyclone. It's been a force felt by Bay of Islands kapa haka leader Mana Epiha because half of his group had to weather out the week.
"There's been no power for the last six, seven days for many of us but at the end of the day, it's either your culture or nothing," Epiha said.
Ngā Manu Mātui was one of 10 groups severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle and was given extra travel support by Te Matatini.
Organisers got performers to Auckland by flights put on by Air New Zealand or by carpooling, vans, and buses.
For Epiha, the trip had to move to the back roads and took a lot longer than usual.
"It would take three-and-a-half hours - it took seven hours. There was so many detours it was not funny."
For Wairoa-based group Mātangirau, it was a 13-hour journey on a series of different buses, but it was a relief to make it after a hard week.
"The last few days has been cleaning silt out and mud. You do that house and you move to the next house and that's just how the streets have been," said Joylene Rohe-Karauria, Mātangirau performer.
The group has all 37 performers with them, even though they all have family with houses affected by flooding.
Melissa Kaimoana and her whānau have four homes damaged.
"One home they lost everything, another whānau that is here with us, their whānau home got demolished."
Instead of grinding them down, it's giving them inspiration.
"It adds to the bite for us to be here and to do the best that we can now for everything at home," Kaimoana said.
"Just making it to the stage is a win for us," Epiha added.
Te Matatini starts on Wednesday.
