Noho marae week after week, practices and performances every Tuesday and Thursday totalling more than 400 hours of training. This is the commitment required for a secondary schools national Kapa Haka campaign!

A combined group of students from 3 schools; Christchurch Boys' High School, Hornby High School and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi, known as Te Toi Huarewa, made their way to Taradale, Hawkes Bay. They were there to compete against 38 other groups from around the country. 

Their Kapa Haka bracket involved Tira, Whakaeke, Mōteatea, Poi, Waiata ā-ringa, Haka and Whakawātea.

There were many highlights of the trip and the performance, one being the groups mōteatea (Chant) which was based on the local ancestor Tūāhuriri, the eponymous ancestor of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, who are the local Mana Whenua within the greater Christchurch area.

Another highlight was the haka which outlined the many issues facing our youth today, in particular, our Māori youth. Due to the strength and passion shown, the group were placed in the top half of all contestants in the haka section.

A special highlight was a surprise visit from our Headmaster Mr Hill, who came to watch our performance and stayed with us afterwards. It was an honour for the boys to achieve as Māori, and to be recognised for this by our Headmaster and School.

After having stood upon a national stage to perform, the lads involved can now access up to 25 NCEA Level 2 and 10 NCEA Level 3 Excellence credits. A fitting reward for such commitment.

This was only possible because of the ongoing support from the CBHS whānau, our partner schools, PTA, senior managers, parents and staff.

Overall we finished 26th out of the 39 groups, the highest placing a South Island group has had in the recent history of the competition.

Read more and watch the group in action here.