Kapa Haka 2016 Regional Report

….Kapa Haka 2016 Regional….

Rotorua kapa haka group Raukura bought the audience to tears with their waiata-a-ringa (action song) and apakura (lament) dedicated to late Te Arawa leader.  (Mauriora Kingi for his people)

It was the beautiful songs from Raukura that had them in first place. Other performance items that won them first place at the National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition.

Te Rōpū Raukura is made up of students from Rotorua Boys and Girls High Schools. The kapa haka team was established under the name Raukura in 1994, representing Te Arawa waka.

Raukura has chosen to share their whakaeke entitled “Te Hāro o te Kāhu”. The whakaeke, composed by Michael Rurehe and the Webster whānau, pays homage to the hosts of the competition, Ngāti Kahungunu.

The performance was about them showing their support for Tawharau, showing that they are here for him. For them the performance isn't an act, the emotions are real, it's all real." I think the students felt good about their performance.

"They were a lot more comfortable on stage, they were relaxed because they had experienced what it was like to perform to the crowd and knew what areas they needed to work on."

Rotorua school kapa haka groups have impressed judges at the Secondary Schools National Kapa Haka Championships in Gisborne with Rotorua schools placing in the top four.

"I think they were amazing Their performance was just marvellous. Prior to the finals they were in a pool with the top six winners from last year's nationals.