Last weekend, He Waka Kōtuia travelled to Invercargill to compete in Te Hautoka Kapa Haka Competition. After months of intensive trainings and practices we had put together an amazing bracket telling the stories of our Kai Tahu tīpuna.

Through our waiata and haka we touched on topics such as white supremacy, racism and the recent mosque shooting. While we were nervous to perform, our tutors reminded us that we weren’t performing to win, we were performing to embrace our Māori culture and to put our best performance on stage.

It was a tough competition between the other roopu, but we were lucky enough to come away with 1st place overall and also as the winners of kaitātaki tāne, the haka, and te reo. It was rewarding to come away with such great results after the months of preparation and hard work we have put into this kaupapa. As we placed first, we have qualified to compete in the National Kapa Haka Competition in Auckland next year. Karawhiua mai!

Ngā mihi, Nā Ella McDonald rāua ko Daisy Kitto- Thomas.

He Waka Kōtuia put on a stunning performance at Te Hautonga this year, my personal favourite was the cheeky and entertaining waiata ā-ringa “moea kē te arero Māori e” which has the positive message to ensure te reo thrives, marry someone who speaks te reo Māori. Ngā mihi nunui ki ngā kaiārahi o te kapa nei, ko Komene rātou ko Paulette ko Cherie ko Angelina me ngā kaitito waiata hoki. Nā tō koutou ārahi i tū rangatira ai ā mātou rangatahi.

Nā Whaea Maya

Ka tuku mihi mātou ki te rangatira i hinga

He aituā, kua hinga tērā o ō tātou rangatira nō Ngāi Tahu a Tahu Pōtiki.

E tuku ana te poari, ngā kaiako me te whānau katoa o te Kura Tuarua o Kuini i te mihi me te aroha ki te whānau pani i tēnei wā.

The performance was dedicated to Ngāi Tahu leader, Tahu Pōtiki who was critically ill at the time. Tahu and his wife Megan (nee Ellison) have been long time supporters of He Waka Kōtuia, and had both composed items in our latest bracket. Tahu sadly passed away two days after Te Hautonga. Moe mai rā e te rakatira. Nā Whaea Cherie.