Tamariki take the kapa haka stage

Waiata, poi and haka took centre stage on Friday as hundreds of Taranaki tamariki performed at an annual kapa haka competition.

Te Huihuinga o Ngaa Taatarakihi Festival 2017 featured 21 primary schools from across the region who packed out New Plymouth’s citywestchurch for the day-long event.

Merrilands School were one of 23 roopuu (group) to take part in the competition and were proud to show off their brand new uniform.

Almost 80 of the school’s tamariki boasted their new wares, but possibly the most honoured of the bunch was the group’s kaea (leader), Chase Korff.

‘‘I feel really proud when I’m on stage,’’ the 9-year-old said. ‘‘It’s fun and I really like to push myself.’’

It was the Year 5 student’s second year being involved with kapa haka but his first as the leader.

And while he said performing in front of so many people was a little nerve-racking, it was also a lot of fun. ‘‘I have to say all of the commands and I, like, start off the songs.’’

For their 10 minute bracket the group of youngsters performed a bevy of waiata including the nation’s much-loved Tuutira Mai Ngaa Iwi.

Kapa haka tutor Unity Wara has been taking the group for the past four years and said they had gone from strength to strength.

Event co-organiser Rangimokai Knuckey said the venue had been abuzz with excited tamariki since the early morning.

‘‘I work at a school and they were excited yesterday,’’ she said.

‘‘Lots of them have said they didn’t have too much sleep last night.’’

Knuckey said while it was still a competition between the primary schools the festival wouldn’t be sending any teams to nationals this year. ‘‘Every second year we send our top teams but this year is a non-qualifying year so it’s more of a practice.’’