During Term 3 in 2024, Ihaka Rapira and Tiaki Manu entered a competition run by the Ministry of Education to honour the legacy of Victoria Cross winner Second Lieutenant Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu and members of the 28th (Māori) Battalion. It is an annual competition for Māori students that encourages an expression of knowledge and personal connection to the 28th (Māori) Battalion through waiata (song) or video. The boys only found out about this opportunity very close to the deadline – five days out – and managed to both compose the words and melody, as well as practise and film, within an incredibly short period of time. The work they were able to produce under this pressure was well-received, taking out 2nd place in the Te Reo Māori category, winning $740.00 for themselves, and $320.00 for the school.

They have since been asked to perform this at the Māori Battalion Hall ANZAC ceremony, and also performed at the Ngārimu Awards Ceremony, held in Wellington at Parliament. In regards to their waiata, the boys have said:

"This waiata tangi, “Haere Rā”, sheds light on the sufferings in which a variety of whānau went through during the Māori Battalion...With the unknowingness of where their children lay, they send their wairua back to the land of Hawaiki."