Kapa haka competitions worth millions
Kapa haka groups from around the country will be descending on Nelson as their most prestigious competitions are held here over the next six years.
The region is set to host the next Te Mana Kuratahi national primary schools kapa haka competition in 2021, the secondary schools competition in 2022, and Te Matatini – the pinnacle Ma¯ ori performing arts festival and competition for kapa haka performers – in 2025.
Whakatu¯ Marae chair Jane du Feu said the competitions would not just be a cultural win for the area but an economic one as well, with between 40 and 60 teams and their supporters visiting for up to a week for each event. She estimated that they could be worth ‘‘in the vicinity’’ of $15 million to $20 million, based on previous events.
Du Feu said the hosting of the events by the Te Tauihu rohe (region) was significant on many levels.
By having Te Mana Kuratahi building up to Te Matatini, which was ‘‘the biggest Ma¯ ori event in the world’’, it gave them time to build up capacity for each competition, she said.
The cultural impact was also not insignificant, she said, raising the profile of Te Ao Ma¯ ori in the region.
Du Feu said kapa haka raised the confidence of the children participating in it, helping them to take pride in themselves and ‘‘bringing the mauri (life force) home’’. This was acknowledged when two local kapa haka groups were welcomed home at Whakatu¯ Marae from Te Mana Kuratahi on Monday.
Pupils from Nelson Central School and Nelson Intermediate School were given a warm welcome after competing in the week-long event in Hamilton. Though they didn’t place in the competition, which saw more than 60 schools competing, the tamariki were in high spirits as they performed again at the marae.