Last Sunday our Kapa haka group performed at the Tūhono School’s Kapa haka competition.

There were 14 schools in total and Te Kura O Hine Waiora performed a waiata tira (choral), a waiata ā-ringa (action song), and a haka. We were placed first place overall, in addition to receiving first place in the choral and action song. We were ecstatic to say the least and proud that all our hard mahi had paid off.

Over this year, the group spent hours practising after school and during lunch breaks and closer to the time, Sunday practices. The students gave up an immense amount of their own time, which in the end resulted in an outstanding performance. Our practices included learning many kupu, working out actions, deciding on stage positions and building our sound through the waiata and haka, all of this and more brought our group together, giving us all a second whānau. On Sunday, our rōpū stood with excitement, poise and pride. Aromea and I could not be more proud of our girls.

We would like to thank Whaea Grace, Whaea Bree, Whaea Stacey, Miss Hahn and Mrs Smith for their ongoing support this year, as we would not have been able to do it without their knowledge, guidance and expertise.