Kapa Haka festival a winner

Mid-June the auditorium at Otamatea High School rattled and hummed to the sound of six local schools performing at the inaugural Te Uri o Hau Kapa Haka Festival.

Participants were Otamatea High School, Te Kopuru School, Dargaville High School, Ruawai Primary School, Paparoa School, Maungaturoto Primary School, Kaiwaka School, Mangawhai Beach School and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ngaringaomatariki.

There were also performances from Te Ha Oranga and Reo ki Tai, Reo ki Uta adult kapahaka.

The hall was at times bursting at the seams with crowds from different parts of Te Uri o Hau rohe – from Pouto to Wellsford – supporting their tamariki performing in a great start to Matariki (Maori New Year).

Nga Uri o Nga Waka represented the host school well performing the winning composition written by Reno Skipper in memory of his son Tahu Potiki. The tune was to that of Moana’s How Far I’ll Go.

The performances were introduced by adults learning te reo Maori through the reo wananga for Otamatea and Te Pounga Marae.

Te Uri o Hau are to be congratulated for establishing a vehicle for the community to celebrate kaupapa Maori in the area.

 

- PHOTOS/Josie Gritten Photography