Community to get schooled on culture

More than 40 school groups in the Marlborough region would once again celebrate Ma¯ ori culture at the Marlborough Schools & Community Group Ma¯ ori Cultural Festival.

Karakia, Kapa Haka and several haka will be performed by those as young as 3-years-old up to adult performers at the twoday event as a celebration of the country’s cultural heritage.

Organiser Rita Powick said the event, put in place by Ma¯ ori teachers in the region, had been a cultural staple in the Marlborough region for 20 years.

She said it reflected the Kapa Haka children learned as part of the school’s curriculum.

‘‘It used to be one day but the numbers of early childhood centres and primary schools had seen the event grow,’’ Powick said.

Uptown preschool teacher Amanda Preece said their students and staff group had been practising for over a month.

‘‘The kids love it,’’ Preece said. ‘‘We have prepared half a dozen songs and a haka for the boys as a part of our performance.’’

Four of the staff are helping out to prepare the students.

‘‘The kids all go home and sing the songs for their families, they value it and share it,’’ Preece said.

Staff from all three centres, John St Preschool, Te Kupenga Preschool, Uptown Preschool, admin staff and some from the board of trustees, around 30 staff in total, will also perform at the event.

‘‘We put the challenge out every year for new groups to take part every year. If the kids can do it, so can the adults,’’ Powick said.

‘‘It’s a celebration, it’s about being proud of our culture and what we do.’’

The organisers would be the final performers of the event, Nga¯ Wa¯hine Mature a play on ‘The Old Girls’.

‘‘Clubs of Marlborough sponsor the event every year. It’s very conducive to what we want.

‘‘A stage, changing rooms, we’re very grateful to Clubs of Marlborough.

‘‘We would like to extend a warm invitation to anyone in the community to come and watch some or all of the event,’’ Powick said.

The event would take place at the Clubs of Marlborough starting on Tuesday, October 23.

MATT BROWN/STUFF Yoandris Vaelua and Mekhi White perform a haka.