Perhaps more pakeha competing along-side their Maori friends in future kapa-haka festivals?
If so, then what a positive powerful groundswell of Maori culture that would be, rising organically from the ground up to positively impact future generations, rather than some politically driven initiative imposed upon us from above.
Young kids of any background growing up doing kapa haka, if they choose, just like any other activity. Just loving it for what it is, blissfully ignorant of its significance when they are little, but forging long-lasting connections with Maori culture, and establishing powerful bonds across all our people regardless of colour or creed.
Often sport is cited as one of the few activities with the ability to transcend socio - cultural - or economic barriers, bringing people together.
So too can kapa haka.
Certainly, with the new Hawke's Bay Community Health and Sport Centre, the vision is to achieve the ultimate, across a range of outcomes. Of those, one of the absolute greatest would be to facilitate optimal integration and blending of cultures and backgrounds.
Therefore, the challenge is to create the perfect environment, where all people can participate and be comfortable, whilst still maintaining and celebrating their own proud identities.
If that is achieved, pathways will be enhanced to help bring more Maori people through, with the talent and love for a given sport, to realise their full potential - people with the passion, athleticism, and disciplined teamwork displayed by the kapa haka performers.
In doing so, more leading role models will be produced, and so completing the cycle to drive greater participation numbers.
A question often raised is, do our schooling systems adequately cater for all peoples natural strengths, whatever that may be, particularly perhaps the performing arts, which are generally a strength of many Maori and Pacific people.
If we can find ways to further integrate it into our system, then it will be a natural space for the Maori people to take the leading role, with all the kapa haka expertise and the lessons that can be taught alongside it.
I've seen it with one of my own children, who looks more forward to kapa haka, than almost any other activity at school.
So exciting possibilities exist with the proposed new Health and Sport Centre at the Sports Park, to build on the pride and cultural passion of Te Matatini.
The fitness and athleticism is a great physical activity and transfers perfectly to sport.
New opportunities to also create workforce and capability development, new roles connecting into the community and developing people as the system is established.
The need is far greater than just the current potential users, it's about creating the optimal system for generations to come, connecting everyone from health related patients, to hardworking inspired athletes.
Now is our chance to implement some change. To get it right.
A Regional Centre for Health and Sport with synergistic connections to all our existing community centres, from Wairoa to Waipukurau.
Potential to grow the participant numbers and quality of kapa haka itself and the flow on impact to kiwi cultural integration, health enhancing physical activity, nutrition, and sport.
