Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples has his mind on his kapa haka swansong at the Matatini national competition in Gisborne this week.
The Minister of Maori Affairs will again take the stage with his west Auckland group, Te Roopu Manutake.
He says he offered to make room one of the younger performers, but group members insisted Papa Pita take his spot at the head of the group he founded more than 40 years ago.
"This is probably my last performance ... it's gonna be great," he told Waatea News.
The competition begins on Thursday.
