Our Upper School kapa haka group continues to build and grow their understanding and connection to Te Ao Maori through kapa haka.

On Monday, we held a mihi whakatau for Papa Rongo, the Te Rā kaiako o te reo Māori.  Our haka powhiri led by Eli Daly and Zion Porteous, with supporting waiata held by Matthis McKinnon, Antonia Jamieson and Laurel van Leuven inspired a heartfelt welcome from our Upper School ākonga to Papa Rongo.  Fern Krivan-Wall, Mya Tito, Maja McKenzie and Caelie Mcdonald were also able to stand on the manuhiri side to tautoko (support) Papa Rongo as former Te Rā ākonga.

Papa Rongo will be  working with the Upper School kapa haka group leading up to our Mid-Winter festival.  The haka and waiata selected for this festival are ones taught at Te Rā. 

Many of our Te Rā ākonga who join us from Class 8 have performed them as part of their kapa haka performances.  By performing these at Raphael House, we acknowledge and deepen our connection also to our sister school on the Kapiti Coast.