Kapa haka teams celebrate end of year
Proud wha¯nau watch as youngsters perform
Te Kura Kaupapa Ma¯ori o Nga¯ti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga has been the host to at least 50 kapa haka teams that participated in a week-long event of kapa haka performances last week.
Teams were made up of kohanga-aged children who performed in the Mokotini Kohanga Reo Kapa Haka Festival, then from Tuesday, November 29 to Thursday, December 1, the Te Ahurei Kuratahi – Nga¯ti Kahungunu Primary Schools Kapa Haka Festival took place.
On Friday, the Tama Turanga - Nga¯ti Kahungunu Primary Schools Kapa Haka Regionals saw the standard of kapa haka lift to a whole new standard. Saturday was “Hakanuia” — an inter-marae kapa haka festival.
Each day brought new challenges for the organisers, but everything was well worth the hard work put in by all participants whether performing or helping with the management .
It was tear-jerking for nannies, mums and dads, older siblings, and everyone who watched the mass videos recorded and shared throughout Facebook. Everyone was so proud of their wha¯nau who performed and gave it their all.
While this was also one of the biggest weeks of the year for any school as the end of the school year fast approaches, other schools also held their end-of-year events involving kapa haka to celebrate graduating students
and also recognise the importance of intergenerational sharing.
On Thursday, Te Kura Kaupapa Ma¯ori o Te Arahou, held their own welcome day for all the Kauma¯tua of the children in the school.
Iwi event manager Te Rangi Huata was pleased to receive his very own handwritten invitation from his mokopuna,
Kahia-Chas Tutapiri Ao Kopu. He went along, not so sure of what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by the children who sang and performed for their kauma¯tua.
“I’ve never been to a kura that has acknowledged the grandparents like this,” Te Rangi Huata said.
“It was done so beautifully. It was a wonderful tradition of having mokopuna performing for their adoring grandparents while their grandparents waived back at their adorable mokopuna.
“One mokopuna would wave to their nanny, and all the nannies would wave back”.
A nice lunch was provided afterward then MC Tawhirimakea Karaitiana invited all of the children to have a photo with their grandparents.
“I felt good, proud and will cherish such special occasions to enjoy and remember. This would have been the highlight of the week for these grandparents. I’m so glad I went.”
To all the hardworking organisers, managers, cooks, teachers, parents, helpers, and participants, we are all very grateful for your time and energy to make these wonderful things happen in our community.
It’s these very activities that build timeless memories, joyful moments to discuss in the future, happy times to remember.
Tihei Kahungunu!