The air was filled with song and vibrant school spirit as Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate (CSKI) held its 3rd Annual Waiata Off this week! This year marked a significant and exciting change, as the event moved from the usual indoor hall setting in Term 2 to a stunning outdoor spectacle on the basketball courts in Term 4, inviting our wonderful whānau to join the celebration.
Waiata Triumphs and School Spirit
Every single pod showed incredible dedication and high school spirit, presenting their waiata with passion and pride. The energy was electric as each pod performed their unique song:
- Sheppard performed Tihei Mauri Ora.
- Ngata performed Haere Mai.
- Rutherford performed Te Taukea Aroha.
- Hillary performed Tutira Mai Ngā Iwi.
A massive congratulations goes to Rutherford Pod, who swept the competition to claim 1st place overall! This is a fantastic achievement, and the whole pod should be incredibly proud of their winning performance.
Recognising Our Esteemed Judges
We were honoured to host a fantastic judging panel who brought their expertise and encouragement to the event. A big thank you to our esteemed judges:
- Nariah Devereux (Cashmere High School)
- Isabelle Webb (Cashmere High School)
- Whaea Vanessa (Cashmere High School)
The judges not only watched each performance but also treated the crowd to a beautiful waiata tautoko (supporting song)—thank you for sharing your talent and time with us!
Whaea Vanessa shared a powerful sentiment about the event, noting that CSKI’s Waiata Off is “amazing because it is keeping te reo Māori alive.” This event is not just a competition; it’s a powerful celebration of te reo Māori and Māori culture woven into the fabric of our school. Every student who took part played a role in making this cultural celebration a success.
We are already counting down the days until next year! Get ready to sing your hearts out for the Waiata Off 2026!
