Emotional tribute | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Lost friends and legends rememberedAn emotional performance dedicated to the memory of family, friends and lost legends saw Raukura - the combined Rotorua Boys' and Girls' High Schools kapa haka group - leave the stage with nothing left to give.

It was standing room only for the much-anticipated arrival of Te Arawa's final representative at this year's Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua 2010 (The National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka competition) at the Energy Events Centre yesterday.

Raukura male tutor Jamus Webster said the group wanted to honour the memory of tipuna (ancestors) such as Sir Howard Morrison, Rotorua kapa haka legend Taini Morrison and more recently, Girls' High School student Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner, who was killed in a car crash last week.

In a performance marked by excellent vocal harmony, meticulously choreographed moves and military-like discipline the group did their best to honour those memories.

Using contemporary tunes with Maori lyrics such as Giving All My Love by Whitney Houston the group managed to touch everyone in the crowd.

The group's male leader Te Kahuirangi Webster dedicated his performance to his best friend Kahu was was killed in another car accident last year.

"I thought we did well, I gave it my all.

"At the end of the day I give praise to the Lord and just hope we win," he said.

The end of their performance was marked with a haka by students from Western Heights High School and another from fellow Boys' and Girls' High School students.

Raukura's female leader Taria Ngawhika the performance felt good and for some of the girls it was their first time on stage.

What made it even harder was the loss of a school-mate.

"Based on what's happened recently it was real motivation for us.

"The girls dedicated their performance to Kristi-Rae.

"I know it has been hard for them but they pulled through," Miss Ngawhika said.

Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner was taken off life support at Waikato Hospital last Friday and passed away just after 8pm, surrounded by family and friends - the day after the vehicle she and four friends were travelling in collided with another vehicle while on their way to Tauranga.

Her funeral was held at the Rotorua Girl's High School Arena on Tuesday.

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

Also representing Te Arawa, were Tongariro, a combined team of Tongariro, Hirangi, Taupo-nui-a-tia and Ahorangi schools and Western Heights High School's kapa haka group Te Ropu Manaaki, who both performed on Tuesday.

The winners of this year's competition will be announced at a prizegiving today from 2.30pm.

Awards will also be handed out for the best male and female leaders, best entry, best exit and a number of other catagories related to the performance.

• Whakatauki - page 5