The rise and rise of regional kapa haka

Plenty of proud tears were shed in the audience at the Kia Hukere Te Hoe regional kapa haka competition, as three Tasman teams performed in the competitive bracket at the Trafalgar Centre last month.

Māpua School, whose kapa was called Te Kōtuku o Māpua, stood in the competitive section for the first time, and kapa haka kaiako (teacher) Heidi Trott says that it was an incredible journey.

“We are immensely proud of how much our kapa lifted their knowledge of Te ao Māori [the Māori world], correct pronunciation of kupu [words] and correct strong actions.”

Another first was tackling a poi performance with more technical elements. Heidi says that their haka, E Koro Pukeone, and their mōteatea (traditional chant) were composed by Maihi Barber, the area’s Kāhui Ako ki Motueka Resource Teacher of te reo Māori.

“We are grateful to have kapa haka items that reflect our local tohu [landmarks],” she says, also commenting on the group’s strong leadership from students Costa Aerakis, Tumanako Toi and Grace Wheatley, who won third place for her karanga/ ceremonial call.

“Our kids stood proud and ready to perform on stage and they are all describing it as an unforgettable experience. The future looks bright for the future of kapa at Te Kura o Māpua.”

Riwaka School’s rōpū (group), Te Puna Waiora o Riuwaka, “blew us all away with their energy and mana”, says principal Adele Lidgard.

She says that their new kākahu (costumes), featuring the kowhaiwhai patterns of mana whenua Ngāti Rarua and Te Ātiawa, were stunning in their school colours.

Their kaitātaki kotiro (female leaders), Lily Nicholas and Ashlyn King, as well as kaitātaki tane (male leader) Oscar Wilson Moreno, led with passion, and she gave special thanks to kapa haka tutors Tess and Luke Hansen and Laura Hanson for “leading our tamariki on this exciting journey”.

Parklands School’s Ngā Mātātupu came third overall, placing in the top three for the categories of kākahu (clothing and adornment), waiata tira (choral), kaitātaki tāne (male leader), whaikōrero (speech), whakaeke (entrance), mōteatea (traditional chant) and waiata ā-ringa (action song).

Their overall third placing at the same competition two years ago was enough to send the group to last year’s nationals, but a rule change this year means that only the top two teams – Nelson Intermediate and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tuia te Matangi – will be attending next year.

Ngā Mātātupu tutor Hotene Walker says that words cannot express his pride in the tamariki.

“Their growth as kai haka, students, and as individuals in our eight-week campaign still amazes me,” he says, calling his kapa “he Rangatira mo apopo” - “the leaders of tomorrow”.