Northern kindergartens’ kapa haka is ka pai

A new generation of learners have shown off their kapa haka skills at an inaugural kindergarten festival.

The Haere Tahi festival was the first of its kind to be held by kindergartens of the Northern Auckland Kindergarten Association (NAKA). Hosted at Whangaparaoa School, the festival of song and dance involved eight kindergartens from the Hibiscus Coast, North Shore and Rodney District.

Haere Tahi was planned as a means to involve the wider community in kindergarten. It also fits into NAKA’s broader strategic goals around bi-cultural development, Whangaparaoa Kindergarten head teacher Wendy Simpson said.

‘‘Kapa haka is a wonderful way to celebrate te reo and tikanga Ma¯ ori, and we see a lot of enjoyment with our children and our families.’’

Following a po¯ whiri and waiata, kai was distributed to hungry mouths. A scholarship presented by NAKA helped facilitate the day, with funds going towards the kai, release time for teachers, and subsidy for some of the buses. When bellies were full, each kindergarten took to the stage to show off its te reo skills, with waiatas and poi..

Simpson believes the festival was the first time the NAKA kindergartens have come together in such numbers.

‘‘We’ve called it Haere Tahi, which means journey together. It’s symbolic of the fact that some of the kindergartens have travelled here, and the fact we’re all on a bicultural journey.’’

Kapa haka costumes brightened up the rainy day.