Western Heights electrify crowd

Matthew Martin | 28th July 2010

Western Heights High School's kapa haka group Te Ropu Manaaki left the stage to deafening applause after their performance on the first day of Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua 2010 (The National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka competition) at the Energy Events Centre yesterday.

The biennial competition runs until Friday with 40 groups from around New Zealand competing for the title of best secondary school kapa haka group.

Yesterday a near capacity crowd witnessed an almost faultless performance by the Western Heights group that will be judged on every aspect of a kapa haka performance including poi, waiata-a-ringa (action song), reo (language), kakahu (costumes) and whakawatea (exit). The group is the only Te Arawa school to have won the national competition which they did in 2004.

Te Ropu Manaaki male lead Tahangawari Tangitu-Huata, 17, said the mix of senior and junior students was one of the secrets to the group's success.

"Most groups only have senior students but our tutors decided we would go with a mix of youth and experience.

"I'm really proud of the group, we set a really high standard for ourselves, especially with the physical stuff," he said.

The group's male tutor, Taumata Soloman, said he expected big things from the group at this year's nationals.

"The vibe I was getting on stage was that they represented Te Arawa well and that's what we wanted to do. To do justice to Te Arawa by giving everything we had," Mr Soloman said.

The group's beautifully crafted performance was met with no less than two post-performance hakas from their hundreds of supporters in the crowd.

On stage before them, and also representing Te Arawa, were Tongariro, a combined team of Tongariro, Hirangi, Taupo-nui-a-tia and Ahorangi schools.

The final group representing Te Arawa will be Raukura, a combined Rotorua Boys' and Girls' High School team who perform on Thursday at 5.40pm.

The winners of this year's competition will be announced at a prizegiving on Friday from 2.30pm. Awards will also be handed out for the best male and female leaders and a number of catagories related to the performance.

WHAKATAUKI

Proverb of the day:

Kaore te kumara e whaakii ana tana reka.

* Translation: The kumara (sweet potato) does not say how sweet it is.

* Explanation: This proverb highlights the value of being humble.

* For more information and performance times go to www.kapahakakuratuarua.co.nz.