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The Wellington regional finals of the Secondary Schools Competition rocked the roof off the Michael Fowler Centre during the New Zealand Youth Arts Festival. Eleven groups from the greater Wellington region battled for the honour of representing Wellington at the National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition in June next year.
The groups are judged on 50 percent te reo Māori and 50 percent performance, but all the participating groups had an infinite percentage of soul in their performances that captivated the audience. In split seconds the quiet audience would be transformed into a roaring crowd, on their feet and jumping in the air, arms raised. Soon the room was booming with chants of the haka greeting the performers onto the stage before once again subsiding into silence.
The groups performed Waiata Tira, Whakaeke, Moteatea/Waiata Korua, Waiata a Ringa, poi, haka and Whakawatea. You were swept off your feet by sweet singing then thrown into a fast, fearsome haka. I found myself lost in the deep sense of culture and language. From the traditional and incarnate tattoos drawn on the male performers to the swishing of the piupius that seemingly hypnotised the crowd, making them believe that they were up there, breathing life back into age old customs and traditions along with the rest of today's generation.
And how did it feel to be a performer in the kapa haka competition? "It is a feeling that you can never have, until you are up there. It is a feeling that you just can't explain. You can't describe it, it is just too awesome." And you could see it, the unspeakable desire and determination conveyed in the performers' eyes. Also the immense pride instilled in the young performers by family and the eminent Māori leaders who attended the event to show their support for the bright, creative future of the Wellington Māori Community.
Kapa Haka Rocks was an event-packed day that ranged from waiatas to free styling in te reo Māori. These showcased the talents of Te Tira Whakaau nō Te Kura Matua o Wainuiomata, Te Kāreti o Makoura o Wairarapa, Te Whānau Tahi nō te Kāreti o Naenae, Te Rōpu O Waipahihi nō te Kāreti o Onslow, Te Whānau a Taraika nō ngā Kāreti o Wellington High School, me te Wharekura o ngā Mokopuna.
Kia aio noho te Kāreti o Kapiti, Te Whānau o Paheretai nō, te Kāreti o Porirua, Ngā Taongā a Tara nō ngā Kāreti o Wellington Girls College, me Wellington boys, Ngā Puawai o Wairarapa, nō ngā Kāreti o Chanel me Wairarapa, Te Mana Whenua o Ngāti Toa, nō ngā Kāreti o Mana College me Rongotai College o Poneke and Otaki te Rāhui kura nō te wharekura o whakatipuranga Rua mano te Wharekura o te rito o te harakeke me te Kāreti o Otaki. All the groups were united in celebrating their culture through each kapa haka performance.
Congratulations to Wellington High School who were placed first and Otaki College who were placed second. Both will be representing Wellington region at the National Secondary School Kapa Haka Competition in June 2004. Kia kaha!
"Te taongā tino rangātira hei kōha ki te tamaiti."
Ko tōna reo anō
Mā tona reo anō,
Ka taea e ia te nanao atu ngā Taongā a ōna mātua tīpuna,
Kia taunga ai taua tū I mua I tana iwi,
Kia mātau ai ki ngā Taonga a te iwi whenua o tēnei ao,
Me te rātou tikanga hoki."
"The richest gift children can receive is the gift of their own language. Through it they can draw on the heritage of their people, stand tall in the presence of their fellows and reach out to share it with other cultures."
"New Zealand Youth Arts Festival 2003 celebrating the creativity and talent of young New Zealanders." |
