Kapa haka revives te reo in Wairarapa

PASSION: Being in Wairarapa's new adult kapa haka team Te Rangiura o Wairarapa has helped members re-connect with their culture and language.

A century ago, a rangatira of Ngati Kahungunu predicted there would be a revival of te reo in Wairarapa.

In 2015, a Masterton-based kapa haka group is making good on this promise -- helping its members' Maori language skills flourish when once they were afraid to utter a word.

Te Rangiura o Wairarapa is the region's first active adult kapa haka group to participate at the Ngati Kahungunu Kapa Haka Regionals in close to a decade.

Its 42 performers, of both Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Rangitane o Wairarapa heritage, are preparing a routine for the regional competition to be held in Hawke's Bay on Waitangi Day next year. From there they hope to qualify for Te Matatini, the premier national kapa haka competition, in 2017.

Co-founder Irihapeti Roberts said many of the performers have been able to connect with their culture and speak and learn Te Reo Maori where they previously had no opportunity or encouragement to use the language.

"For a long time, te reo wasn't really happening in Wairarapa," Irihapeti said.

"In the 1800s, the prophet Paora Potangaroa predicted the language would be lost, but be brought back by our mokopuna.

"We may not be the generation bringing it back but if people are learning it through kapa haka, they can pass it on and it can radiate throughout the community."

Irihapeti, a graduate of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Wairarapa, founded Te Rangiura o Wairarapa in August alongside former Kura teacher Shari Taylor.

Both women felt they needed a creative outlet for the Maori customs, language and history they had learned at school.

Of the adult group's members, the majority are former Kura Kaupapa students, teachers or parents. In fact, their name comes from the school's proverb -- "Ruia te taitea, kohia te rangiura" -- meaning "purge the bad things, gather the good things."

"Some had been disconnected from their maoritanga and te reo after leaving school," Shari said.

"We wanted to create a safe, productive environment where they felt they could be Maori and be themselves," Irihapeti added.

The women said the group has a strong focus on Wairarapatanga -- pride in being from Wairarapa.

Their routine captures aspects of local history and mythology, such as the wisdom Kahunugunu received from a visiting bird and Lake Wairarapa as the eye of Maui's fish.

The poi routine is a tribute to the feminine in Maori spirituality, and celebrates the region's "strong wahine".

"It's been awesome to re-discover our history," Shari said.

She and Irihapeti said they have enjoyed seeing the group gain confidence in their performance and their language.

"For years, some of them had been afraid to speak Maori -- either because they were afraid they'd make mistakes and be ridiculed, or because they thought it had no use," Irihapeti said.

"Now, we've got people who have more confidence speaking te reo and using it in daily life, or getting up and speaking on the marae."