Star performers claim fifth win
Whangarei-Mai-Tawhiti delivered a ‘‘typically clever and cheeky’’ kapa haka performance to clinch their fifth consecutive contest win.
The Whangarei group walked away with $12,000 after winning Auckland Council’s Te Wananga o Aotearoa Kapa Haka Super 12s on July 9.
Held at Auckland waterfront venue The Cloud, the seasoned group competed against adult and secondary school groups as part of council’s Matariki Festival 2016 celebrations.
Whangarei-Mai-Tawhiti spokesperson Joby Hopa says despite winning the last four times, they had no expectation of success this time around.
‘‘When you go to the competition, you’re always unaware of what the other groups might bring. It’s a bonus when you come away with the win.’’
For the contest, teams of 12 are given creative licence to produce 12 minute long high energy stage performances based on their own unique interpretation of traditional Maori performing arts including poi, waiata and haka.
Hopa says they ‘‘just come up with crazy ideas and fuse them’’ to maintain the essence of traditional kapa haka’’.
The group used helium balloons as poi, kitchen brooms as taiaha in their haka and incorporated hand games into their waiata.
This year’s costumes, which were made fully out of corrugated cardboard, were made by one of the members of the group.
Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina says this year’s super 12s mixing young and old teams was extra special.
‘‘This mix of adult and youth ropu brought something special to the competition.
‘‘Teams displayed an impressive level of talent and energy and were able to showcase traditional art of kapa haka and Maori culture in a fresh, creative and innovative way. Ka pai everyone who competed.’’
Hatea Kapa Haka, the wider group which Whangarei-MaiTawhiti comes from, are heading to Italy to perform in an international folk festival.
Hopa says there are 25 of them going and they will join a troupe for two weeks and perform in different towns.
He says the $12,000 prize money from winning the Super 12s event would be split between the members of the group and some would be using it towards their Italy trip.