Making an impact with kapa haka

Kingitanga Tamatea who, with Rewi Nankivell-Te Kani, was in that first conversation about Te Kapa o Kapiana. All pictures supplied

Campion College students have made history for their school by forming its first competitive kapa haka team.

They took the stage at the secondary schools’ regional competition last month.

The two best teams from each region qualify for the secondary schools’ national competition, held every two years.

But qualifying for the world’s biggest secondary school kapa haka competition wasn’t uppermost in the minds of the Campion group.

It all started with a conversation between teacher Matua Rick Paenga and students Kingitanga Tamatea and Rewi Nankivell-Te Kani, about staying connected to their cultural roots. At this meeting they came up with the idea of continuing to honour those cultural roots, which encompass the ideology of their rōpū (group). Together with Jacqueline Nankivell-Te Kani they took on the challenge of the Tūranganui Festival in 2022.

Other students had their interest piqued, and the group grew.

This year kapa haka became an “Impact Project”. Year 7 to 13 students have the option of devoting 200 minutes every Friday to pursue a passion, and for these students it was kapa haka.

These regular group gatherings evolved into the school’s first competitive kapa haka team, Te Kapa ō Kapiana.

It has been an opportunity for everyone to share, to learn and to represent more than just their school.

“Future tamariki at Campion College will be grateful for our whānau because we bring in something that is special to all of us . . . kapa haka,” Tamatea said.

“This is important to our rōpū because we are doing it not only for ourselves, but to make our tīpuna (ancestors) and whānau proud.

“Many of my rōpū have never done kapa haka, and it’s going to be a great way to show how many of us have reconnected with our culture.”

Matua Rick has been an integral part of the process, having tutored many schools to performance on the regional and national stage.

In the team’s leadership group, Tamatea is joined by Jorja Hill and Paige Brown.

Hill echoes the thoughts of Tamatea about their special group.

“What I like the most about our rōpū is that we all get along and feel like a big whanau,” Hill said.

“Most of the people in the rōpū aren’t Māori, yet the kids really love our Māori culture and want to be a part of it.

“Kapa haka is my passion. I’d enjoy doing kapa haka all day, every day. I love my culture and I’m very proud that it has become recognised in our school. I’m sure it has changed a lot of people’s lives and views on our kura (school) now.”

Members of the group have learned more than how to perform. It has created unity and brought down walls, as well as being a support network.

“It has taught me about responsibilities and that I am never alone,” Brown said.

“There are always going to be people here to support you. It has made me a better person.

“All the people in the group, with the love and kindness they’ve shown me, have brightened me up.”

The accomplishment of performing on stage at the regional competition has team members in contention for an Impact Project Award — one of the school’s end of year honours.

Leadership group members are also keeping the next generation of kapa haka enthusiasts in mind. In their own time every Friday morning, they share with St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Stella Maris pre-schoolers  the skills they have learned, hoping to ignite the passion for the aspiring Te Kapa ō Kapiana Kaihaka to follow.

Ko te Atua ki te rangi, ko Kapiana ki te whenua.