Kapa haka group makes nationals
Dannevirke’s Te Ringa Kaha Kapa Haka performed in the Tangata Rau Regional Competition in Palmerston North on Saturday February 29 and qualified for Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Competition to be held in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland February 23-27, 2021.
Te Ringa Kaha and composite group Te Riu o Tamaki both performed for the first time at regional level. With each group staging 40 performers each, and being supported by wha¯ nau and friends, Tamaki nui a Rua, especially Dannevirke, was well represented on the day. Other groups came from Levin and Palmerston North. Performances can be viewed on www. maoritelevision.com/haka/regionals2020-rangitane
Three Kapa Haka will represent the Rangita¯ ne region at the nationals. Te Tu¯ Mataora — winners of the Regional competition and Te Tini o Rehua, who placed second will be joined by Te Ringa Kaha, in Auckland next year.
Performing members of Te Ringa Kaha come from local families, some travelled back to Dannevirke each week for the regional campaign. The majority are firsttime competitive kapa haka performers. Parents performed next to their children, brothers, sisters, cousins and workmates, all committed to the philosophy to uplift Ma¯ ori people within Tamaki nui a Rua, normalise Te Reo Ma¯ ori, showcase history, legends, oral traditions, proverbs, phrases, vocabulary, tribal sayings and genealogy of Rangita¯ ne through Ma¯ ori performing arts.
Male tutors Wharemako Paewai and Troy Tawhai, and female lead and tutor Zenna Gatonyi Hepi-Te Huia are proud of the achievements at the regional event and look forward to Te Ringa Kaha taking the stage at Te Matatini Herenga Waka, Herenga Tangata in February 2021. The current performers will have the opportunity to perform at nationals and with interest growing new performers may also trial for spots.
Performing with such a large group always comes at a huge financial and personal cost — families making changes in their lives to meet the rigorous training regime, the financial commitment to weekly and weekend training camps and the ongoing fundraising for equipment and instruments to enhance the performance.
The regional campaign was supported well locally with help from major sponsor Rangita¯ ne o Tamaki nui a Rua, whose contribution enabled Te Ringa Kaha to wear their unique design outfits at the
regional event.
Tararua REAP provided venues for wha¯ nau learning programmes and the piupiu worn were courtesy of Te Waiora Club. A Tararua Arts Council grant assisted in creating patu, poi and ra¯ kau supported by Menz Shed Dannevirke and extended wha¯ nau.