The mana of the young people of Te Tauihu (Top of the South) was undeniable at Kia Hūkere te Hoe last week.
The regional kapa haka festival – the biggest to ever be held in Wairau (Marlborough) -was a celebration of a performance art that's become so popular in Te Tauihu, that there wasn't enough room for all the teams that wanted to perform.
The two-day event, which began on Thursday, served as the regional qualifier for next year’s Te Mana Kuratahi, the biennial national primary schools kapa haka competition, and Te Matatini 2027, the national kapa haka festival.
Secondary school teams also took to the stage battling it out for regional honours.
Richmond’s Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tuia te Matangi earnt top honours in the primary section, meaning they will head to Te Tai Tokerau Northland next year for Te Mana Kuratahi.
Victory Primary School’s Te Rōpū Whakamanamana earnt second place in the Primary category, meaning they qualify for Te Mana Kuratahi and will travel to Te Tai Tokerau Northland next year. The school had two groups performing, the only school from Whakatū to do so.
It’s the first time the school has qualified for nationals in 16 years says tumuaki Dan George.
Former Victory Primary School student Bailee Tava, who was in the qualifying group 16 years ago, has come full circle, now working as kaiāwhina (teacher aide) at the school and composing and teaching waiata to the groups this year.
Bailee and the Te Kuru Marutea rōpū went viral around the world last year for their performance of Kei Wareware i a Tātou at Te Matatini.
Victory had eight kaiako, five kaiāwhina, two senior leaders, two volunteer staff, three board members, and “a heap of whānau” - take to the stage across four senior groups, Dan says.
“It was a powerful example of commitment, passion, and leadership in action from our staff; and this is one of the reasons kapa haka continues to be such a strength of our kura. Our tamariki see it, feel it, and are inspired by it,” Dan says.
He says kapa is very important to the school, and next time, they’re aiming to have four groups perform including a group from their English Medium class.
Nelson Tasman rōpū (group) Te Tautoko Whānau (support family) opened the adult’s competition on day two, a rōpū of around 40 adults, majority of whom have no Māori heritage.
Motueka-based Karen Wells says it’s the third time they have performed and their purpose is to support other groups.
“To get two groups to Te Matatini, there needs to be six groups competing, so we are there to support others.”
The group started as a group of kaiako (teachers) from across Nelson and Tasman who were part of Te Ahu o te reo Māori, a Ministry of Education strategy to lift Māori language capability, which the government cut funding to in 2024 but has grown significantly this year.
The group, tutored by Nelson College’s Api Filiai, were initially meeting once a month that ramped up closer to the competition. It was no small feat to get almost 40 people from across the region together for practice.
“The feedback I’ve received is that people could see that there had been a step up. And there has been real improvement and a real desire to improve and to get it right,” Karen says.
“The whakawātea (exit) we wrote ourselves as a tribute to Te Ahu o te reo, to thank them for their time and to show them we have learnt a lot, we know the stories, we know the waiaita and we will take care of your mokopuna regardless of what the government decides to do.”
Kapa haka has become increasingly popular in recent years, according to says Te Tauihu Kapa Haka Inc. heamana (chair), Sonny Alesana.
Around 13 primary school teams competed at the event last week, but there were even more who wanted to.
"Unfortunately, we had 11 other teams that we couldn't fit on the two days so we have to find something for them, which is a goal of ours in the next two or three years, is how we might be able to accommodate the exponential growth of kapa haka in our region."
He says every whānau that was involved put lots of time and effort into kapa haka.
"There's a lot of travelling, a lot of cooking, a lot of tears, a lot of sewing of uniforms, so not only are the children up there on the stage but they are representing their whanau, their hapu and their iwi."
Results
Primary
Third: Te Kōhao o te Ngira/Broadgreen Intermediate
Second: Te rōpū Whakamanamana/Victory Primary School
First: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tuia te Matangi
Secondary
Third: Puaha Te Tai/ Te Kāriei o Neirana
Second: Nga Taiohi o Wairau
First: Whiria
