Children from 11 kura kaupapa, primary and intermediate schools around the Mid North took part in the Kaikohekohe Cultural Festival on Thursday. Now in its 22nd year, the event is a non-competitive celebration of Māori performing arts — with a few hip-hop dance and ukulele groups thrown in — and a chance to showcase tamariki talent. This year schools from as far away as Horeke and Paihia took part. More than 20 groups preformed during the day-long festival in the Kaikohe Memorial Hall.
![Kinaira Casidy-Rakete (right) and Promise Webster-Harding perform with Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kaikohe's Year 5-6 kapa haka group. Photo / Peter de Graaf](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/CZ4VGGQOBPRFJH5UT4NJXHYTNM.jpg?auth=c7346777613bc3508a662f3779ac8eb61f7ceba93398c11e7ea52d4c69d08390&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
![De'shaye Elliot puts in a spirited performance with the Year 7-8 students of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kaikohe. Photo / Peter de Graaf](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/EVI3FMYPX6IAXTFFU4NNLQP3CM.jpg?auth=11e3ad66edb741384d6f7ac989908a8f2696935184920843959f17d3f612363a&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
![Wehi Henry-Edmonds (front) and Cortez Mata brandish their rākau during a performance by the Year 7-8 students of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kaikohe. Photo / Peter de Graaf](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/SPKOYNA5YZANEXD26YLTBCDHNA.jpg?auth=3ec43cc7379878472f46a89749dea8af918ab3a9f0b3f0042fdd63f2a6a6b69d&width=16&height=27&quality=70&smart=true)
![Kataraina Nordstrand, 6, performs with Kaikohe Christian School's kapa haka group. Photo / Peter de Graaf](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/BFKPRBAGW3YVHXKOJNFGQORLLQ.jpg?auth=fb6dd17b0cc2540c40bf10faaea2290786f3736d25dc1570e9c03c0c5a4ee160&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)