Our Kapa Haka group, Te Rōpū Harikoa, has had an amazing and wild year. We are so lucky to have so many students from various backgrounds who have a passion for Kapa Haka. We started our year with about 130+ students joining the rōpū and these students would come early on Wednesday mornings to participate in learning waiata, haka, and Tikanga Māori.
Events we have participated in this year include the first Cashmere High Pō Whakangahau where schools around the local area came together to perform. It was also a wonderful opportunity to watch Cashmere High seniors perform and gain some inspiration. We also got the whole rōpū to perform for Broadgreen when they came down. The major highlight this year was competing and winning at Tūhono. It was a great moment for our group and I am proud of every student who participated in all of these events.
We held our last session in Week 9 of Term 4 and we invited our whānau to celebrate. We performed and then got the opportunity to do some rakau with our tutor Matua Steve. A huge ngā mihi to all the whānau who embraced that challenge and it is always a pleasure to see you all at our Kapa Haka time.
A huge ngā mihi to our Tutor Steve for all his hard mahi he has done this year and for building confidence in our kids. Also to Aniwa for her contributions in extending our kids and making them shine. Lastly, to Peytyn Holland and Guy Williams for their support with the rōpū as well. Both giving up lunchtimes and coming early as well to make sure that all our students get this amazing opportunity.
As Steve had said, Year 8 students please continue performing arts and kapa haka if you can. I am looking forward to working with the Year 7s who will be Year 8s next year and seeing them supporting our next Year 7s in 2025.
Have a safe holiday!
Ngā mihi,
Hayden Barr
