The Waihirere Māori Club of Tairawhiti has a long and distinguished history. Formerly led by Wiremu Kingi Kerekere and then Ngapo and Pimia Wehi, the group is now guided by George and Tangiwai Ria who composed many of the items.
Waihirere has performed in all nine festivals and is the only group to have won it twice - 1972 and 1979. The group is based on its Aitanga-a-Mahaki marae at Waihirere, near Gisborne. They perform their items at the 1988 Aotearoa Festival of Arts in Whangarei:
- Whakaeke: Te Atua
- Waiata: Ko Turanga Wahine, Ko Turanga Tane (Na Te Rangiuia i tito)
- Poi: Matariki (an original composition by members of the club)
- Waiata-a-ringa: Paikea (an original composition by Tommy Taurima)
- Haka: Te Tangatawhenua (an original composition by members of the club)
- Whakawatea: Haere mai ra, haere mai ra