Placings a huge surprise for dedicated kapa haka group

Though most of the 35-strong group had never actually performed at such an event, they came away jubilant, with three placings. 

The group, led by kaiako Māori Chanel Ngaruhe, whānau class teachers Matua Bruno and Matua Nigel Lineham, and supported by Symphony and some of the Moka whānau, spent the previous day and night at Te Awhina Marae in Motueka, where they practised and prepared.

There was a lot to do in a very short time, as a new performance bracket was pulled together under pressure. “We used our time well for practice,” whānau class member James Reneti said. “We learnt a haka overnight, most of us a mōteatea, we practised a lot of our tira and brushed up on our school haka. We taught the ones that didn’t know but should have known what we were doing on stage.”

James, who is reasonably new to the whānau, noticed things he had not previously seen in some of his classmates over the course of the two days. “When I first came into the kapa haka practice, I saw a lot of lazy people. That was through my eyes, I saw a lot of lazy people who thought they didn’t want to be there. But coming onto the noho marae, I saw people who were dedicated to trying to learn these things. It gave me hope for the kapa haka group and (...) I see a great bunch of potential leaders (...) and I want to see them grow.”

Staying at Te Awhina is always something special Year 13 Taylor Brunning. “There’s a lot of history behind it for me. My Dad, when it [the wharenui] was opened, I’m pretty sure he did the wero for it, he was one of those little boys there (...). I just love it.”

Though the group was flat-out, practising from 11.30 in the morning till 11 at night, they did stop for kai, a clean-up and to listen to stories in the wharenui. “The hosts for Te Awhina were amazing, as always, teaching us history of the whare, the tupuna that reside there. You could actually see a lot of connections with the people sitting there who didn’t know they were connected at all. Yeah, it was amazing,” James said.

The trip to Marlborough after the 5am rise the next morning was slowed by some car sickness, and the group arrived at the venue with just minutes to spare. Then it was get backstage, line up, wait and go out there and perform.

“In the moment it was really cool. We did have a few mistakes and we felt a bit, not angry, but maybe upset that we could’ve done this better, but then Whaea Chanel, she started crying and saying how proud she was of all of us and how much we’ve grown, so we just chucked all that aside and thought ‘nah, that was a good performance’. The haka was our strong point,” Taylor said.

The placings the group received for non-aggregate items were: 2nd place to Wiremu Tairaki-Whiu for Kaitātaki Tāne- male leader, 3rd place for Waiata Tira (hymn) and 3rd place for Whakawātea (exit from stage).

The wins were made all the more surprising by the fact that none of the group realised they were competing. “I’m pretty sure Whaea Chanel told everyone that we weren’t competing and that we were just entertainment and then it turns out we were competing. I think she told us ‘you guys are just the opening act, don’t get too nervous!’ It kind of worked out well actually,” Taylor said.

On the journey home, the bus stopped at Pelorous Sound where the rōpu performed a spontaneous haka in honour of Wiremu and his achievements.

Te Whānau o Neirana now turn their attention to their upcoming trip to Palmerston North next month as they support Tiaki Sharp to compete in the National Manu Kōrero Competition.