Youngsters turn on rousing display

Maori Language Week

When Matariki and Maori Language Week coincide, what better way to celebrate than with a kapa haka event?

Mia Diamond, of St Francis Xavier School, takes part in a waiata at Monday's kapa haka event at Northtec.

Students from St Francis Xavier School, Totara Grove School and Te Kura Kaupapa O Te Rawhitiroa took part in a kapa haka event at NorthTec on Monday. NorthTec director of learner support Huhana Lyndon said it was "the second time we have held a kapa haka event for primary schools at Matariki".

Kruz Taua-Glassie, from Totara Grove School, pulls a pukana at Whakapapa at Te Puna o Te Matauranga Marae.

"The kapa haka event is designed to be part of our Matariki celebrations. The timing was around the start of our second semester, which got under way last week, but as it is also Maori Language Week, it gives us a chance to celebrate Te Reo as well as Matariki," Ms Lyndon said.

Hineraukura Pene from Totara Grove School performs at Northtec's kapa haka event whakapapa.

"It was great fun and lovely to see the children performing. It was also great for parents and whanau to see their tamariki performing in public. This is a chance to bring the community in to NorthTec, and for this particular event, it's an opportunity for us to celebrate Matariki with our local tamariki mokopuna."

They may be small but the tamariki from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rawhiti Roa know how to haka.