Kapa haka performers take stance in Nelson

Hundreds of kapa haka performers are displaying their pride at the Trafalgar Centre this week for Aotearoa’s largest secondary school kapa haka biennial event.

It’s the first time Ngā Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua o Aotearoa is being staged in Te Waipounamu (the South Island) in its 24-year history, and up to 15,000 visitors are expected in Te Tau Ihu (Top of the South Island) for the Tuesday to Friday competition.

Sonny Alesana, who chairs the competition co-host, Te Tauihu o Te Waka a Maui Māori Cultural Council, says it was a “privilege” that another large scale kapa haka contest was taking its stance in Nelson.

He says the event will provide a second cultural and economic upswing for the region, following the city’s triumphant inaugural hosting of the national primary school contest, Te Mana Kuratahi, at the end of last year.

Ngā Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua o Aotearoa will also set the scene for Nelson hosting the nationwide kapa haka festival, Te Matatini, in 2027.

“We had really good reports back from a lot of our visitors last year around how well [Te Mana Kuratahi] was hosted, so this year our hope is that this event will exceed everybody’s expectations,” Sonny says.

“Our role is to ensure that all our manuhiri, our guests, the 10,000 to 15,000 people coming into the region, are well looked after so that after the event, they can come back and holiday here.

“I hope our whole community embraces our visitors that are coming into Te Tau Ihu… it’s an opportunity for our youth who are at secondary school to express who they are through performing arts.”

Sonny says Ngā Aho Rau is the competition’s local group, with members from Nelson College for Girls and Nelson College.

He says while tickets for the final day sold out in less than 24 hours, tickets for other competition days can still be purchased here.