Forty-six primary school kapa haka from 16 regions across Aotearoa are polishing their performances ahead of Te Mana Kuratahi competition to be held in Nelson later this month.
As the ‘Home of Haka’, Whakaata Māori is broadcasting this national event live to MĀORI+ and Te Reo Channel from October 30 to November 3.
This year’s competition is the first since Covid-19 arrived in Aotearoa in 2020. The biennial event was cancelled in 2021 when parts of the Waikato-Tainui region were put into lockdown alongside Tāmaki Makaurau.
From morning to night, audiences can expect four truly inspiring days of tamariki brimming with passion and eagerness to showcase their cultural pride, honour their heritage and celebrate their incredible talents on the national stage.
Thousands of hours learning kupu, actions, formations, melodies and mastering traditional Māori weaponary skills will all come down to one performance for hundreds of urban and rural tamariki going after the ultimate title of Toa Whakaihuwaka, the winners of Te Mana Kuratahi 2023.
Te Mana Kuratahi chairman, Jack Te Moana says despite the delay of the event and financial challenges to travel to Te Waipounamu, the “passion and hunger” for kapa haka has only grown stronger, and this year maybe the best showcase yet.
“Our tamariki are extraordinary. You’ll be seeing 5 year olds, our pīpī paopao mirroring the discipline, pride and perfection of their tū next to their 13 year old tuakana. This is all part of the excellence and development of kapa haka - te mana o ngā tamariki, we’ll see the fruits of it on the national stage in Whakatū.”
Te Kura o Te Pāroa: Behind the lines
Reigning champions, Te Kura o Te Pāroa started learning items, fundraising and preparing for their haerenga to Whakatū in the first term.
“We’ve got a much younger kapa taking the stage next week, so we adjusted our schedules to have a more ao haka-focused way of learning. The change has given us more time to get our tamariki ready for the competition, which is great,” says Head tutor Ripeka Koia.
“Our tamariki also had to rangahau, how Ngāti Awa connects to Whakatū, to Te Waipounamu. One of the hononga is the kaupapa of our poi, its a favourite item and a privilege for our kura representing our iwi o Mataatua to acknowledge our shared ties and show our gratitude for the aroha and manaakitanga given to us by the host rohe.”
Te Tauihu o Te Waka
This year’s Te Mana Kuratahi continues the legacy of showing the best of junior kapa haka in Aotearoa. For Ngā iwi e waru o Te Tauihu o te Waka, it is a great matter of pride as hosts of the kaupapa to ensure this celebration of talent and culture shines brighter than ever before.
Festivities for Te Mana Kuratahi begin with the mass pōwhiri hosted by Ngā iwi e waru o Te Tauihu at Trafalgar Centre on Sunday 29 October at 11am. Competing kura will showcase their talents on the national stage from Monday with the prizegiving on Thursday around midday.
“We’re excited and we’re ready. The entire iwi is pitching in and many have volunteered their time to prepare for the pōwhiri and for the arrival of the groups and tāonga of Te Mana Kuratahi,” says Sonny Alesana, chair of Te Tauihu o te Waka a Maui Māori Cultural Council.
Last month, Te Matatini provided Te Mana Kuratahi with over $1 million to assist the rōpū from around the country to cover the expense of getting to Nelson for what will be the first of three national kapa haka competitions the city hosts.
Te Mana Kuratahi begins on October 30, with local kura kaupapa, Tuia Te Matangi, taking the stage at 8.45am.
