KAPA HAKA THROUGH A LENS Melissa Banks + Jeremy Banks

Te Ara o Hine Rēhia is a visual foray into the world of kapa haka, told through the lens of photographer Melissa Banks and her husband Jeremy Banks. Each chapter in the book covers one of the seven different disciplines that make up a kapa haka bracket, evoking the emotions and feelings association with that item. Chaired by David de Thierry. Free – (RSVP essential) Taken over seven years, the photos feature the various kapa that Melissa and Jeremy’s daughters performed in through school and at Te Matatini, the national kapa haka competition. Their efforts to raise their kōtiro with te reo Māori as their first language, is a common contemporary story of reconnection to language, whakapapa and identity. Key to this journey has been the constant effort to surround their kōtiro with kaupapa Māori, a journey in which kapa haka has played a key role. The text in Te Ara o Hine Rēhia explores the different disciplines in kapa haka, delving into the unique aspects and nuances of each item, and exploring the practice and performance process. Ultimately this book reflects what kapa haka means to this whānau and the role that it has played in their intergenerational journey of cultural reconnection.