Bunbury's Maori group take on Kiwis in NZ

Bunbury's Maori performing arts group has finished second in a national competition and earned the right to compete in New Zealand.

Te Kuraroa starred in only its second national kapa haka competition, held in Perth last week, despite only having seven weeks to perfect the routine.

The group had 31 members who performed across six categories including a choral section, entrance and exit and the traditional haka.

Tutor Rawinia Huriwai said the group had battled through a number of challenges and their achievement "will never be forgotten".

"It is a pleasure and an honour to be part of this group," she said.

"We performed with heart and our families were proud of us.

"I am very humbled, happy and excited."

The group's reward is the opportunity to be one of just two teams who will represent Australia in next year's Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival in February.

A year of fundraising awaits to send the group to Hawke's Bay, on the eastern part of New Zealand's North Island, where they will compete alongside the best kapa haka groups from their homeland.

The Bunbury-based Te Kuraroa formed in 2013 and narrowly missed out on earning the chance to compete in New Zealand after the 2014 Australian competition in Sydney.