Blatant rivalries at Bastion Pt

A veteran of the kapa haka is eager to score some points, he tells FIONA OLIPHANT.

Two memories stand out for Dr Pita Sharples from 1981 when he led Te Roopu Manutaki's performance in front of the packed Avondale Racecourse grandstand. It was the first time the national kapa haka competition had been held in Auckland and the group came third overall.

What made their performance different was that they used weaponry - maurakau taiaha - in a way that had not been seen before. "It was full-on use of weaponry and fighting arts stuff," says Sharples, "and that was an eye-opener for everybody."

This week, the biennial Aotearoa Traditional Maori Performing Arts Festival returns to Auckland for only the second time in its 30-year history. It is being hosted by Ngati Whatua o Orakei and Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) kapa haka groups.

Things have changed since 1981 when 21 teams from around the country competed in what was called the New Zealand Polynesian Festival, drawing a crowd of 30,000 over three days.

Now Maoridom's premier event has attracted 36 teams, including two from Australia. They will battle it out on stage in an intense three-day schedule at Takaparawhau [Bastion Pt]. Organisers expect 100,000 people to attend the festival, which begins with a powhiri for the teams on Thursday at Okahu Bay Domain.

Sharples has led the West Auckland-based Te Roopu Manutaki at every national kapa haka festival since they began in 1972 at Rotowhiu Marae in Rotorua. He believes the main reason for kapa haka's growth is the renaissance in Maori language and culture. "Kapa haka is the flagship - the physical presence of Maori in this country."



Sharples says the national festival has raised the level of kapa haka in every region. It has also allowed some groups to appear near the top at every festival, providing role models for innovation in the traditional disciplines of whakaeke (entry on), action song, poi, haka, traditional waiata, and whakawatea (exit off), which are compulsory. As a result, choreography, poi and use of weaponry (taiaha and patu) have progressed greatly since 1981.

Now, sophisticated and tricky moves are needed to impress the judges. Poi, too, has advanced from more basic forms. "In modern poi you see some really intricate actions that involve the whole body - it might be a little step and a twirl with a tricky hit, all bottled up in one movement."

But haka hasn't changed that much, says Sharples, except now most groups compose more relevant haka. Changes in the scoring system have given groups extra incentive to create original work. Previously each item was scored out of 10 but now there is an additional five points allocated for originality, plus prizes for composition.

"People don't dare to repeat at a festival. Anyway, you can't afford to give away those five points. Last time we came second overall by half a point, yet our score was over 1000. That's how close it is."

If anything, says Sharples, the rivalry is more blatant now. "There's only one thing you remember at the end of the festival - who won, not who came second."

Puti Mackey, a veteran performer for Wellington's Ngati Poneke and a judge for poi this year, says competition comes second to bringing people together to continue the performing arts. All she remembers of Ngati Poneke's performance at Avondale in 1981 was that they were in full swing and should have won.

Meanwhile, Sharples has been living and dreaming Te Roopu Manutaki's build-up. He is brashly confident. "We've got very good items, we're pumping, we're going to take it this year, by that half a point."

* Kapa Haka 2002: Friday and Saturday, 8 am-7.30 pm; Sunday's final starts at 8.30 am. Prize ceremonies 12.45 pm.