Napier St Joseph's Māori Girls' College's kapa haka performance in Barcelona warms hearts around world

St Joseph's Māori Girls' College students with former Governor-General and High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom, Sir Jerry Mateparae at New Zealand House. Photo / Whānau Whānui

It is a sight not many would expect in a Spanish city, but one that has captured the hearts and minds of those all over the world.

Hundreds gathered on the cobblestone streets of Barcelona to watch students from Napier's St Joseph's Māori Girls' College perform a kapa haka routine, with waiata and poi.

Since a video of the performance was posted on Facebook on December 9, it has been viewed more than 465,000 times, shared more than 8000 times and has more than 5000 comments.

Principal Dame Georgina Kingi is suprised by the reaction saying it is simply them, "Māori, being Māori".

"We had fabulous guides on our trip so we thank them in the manner we know best; we stand up spontaneously and waiata and kapa haka to them."

St Joseph's Māori Girls' College students with former Governor-General and High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom, Sir Jerry Mateparae at New Zealand House. Photo / Whānau Whānui

Kingi, along with 30 students and 15 parent-helpers, had been on the hikoi around Europe since December 1.

She says it is a "religious, cultural and educational tour" following on from last year's 150th anniversarycelebrations.

"The founding order of St Joseph's was a French order of teaching sisters and this year we decided we would retrace those steps."

They travelled to Rome, where they had a general audience with the Pope, and attended a service at St Peter's Basilica.

But the most "emotional" part of the trip was visiting the Monte Cassino war cemetery, where a number of Māori had been laid to rest, Kingi said.

"Many of the girls didn't realise that they did have whanau at Cassino."

Other events included visiting Lourdes, attending a service at Notre Dame and spending time with former Governor-General and High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom Sir Jerry Mateparae at New Zealand House.

"It's been a marvellous experience for the girls. And we've reconnected with a lot of our whanau and past pupils.

"It is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but I guess I didn't really foresee that it would go this far. Hopefully we are spreading a bit of joy around the world."

The group flew out from London last Thursday.