Kapa haka rivals to 'bring it on'

By RENEE KIRIONA

James Cook High, led by Hone Tawhai, will defend its Polyfest kapa haka title with "full force".

It has told arch-rivals Hoani Waititi, the Glen Eden-based Maori language school founded by kapa haka authority Dr Pita Sharples, to "bring it on" at the world's largest Maori and Pacific festival.

"We'll be going there in full force," James Cook kapa haka tutor George Pomana said.

Hoani Waititi kapa haka tutor Kororia Taumanu said her group had accepted the challenge and had only one aim.

"We're entering for nothing else but to win because winning will prove to us that our commitment to te reo Maori is bearing fruit," she said.

Hoani Waititi was overall winner of the Maori section consecutively from 1996 to 2001.

In the competition's 29 years no other school has come close to its record and last year was only the second time since 1986 that James Cook had won.

James Cook will take on the theme of "mana whenua, mana tangata - people get their mana from the land".

"Our message is for the Maori MPs," Mr Pomana said.

"We will be asking them why things like the foreshore and seabed proposal and planned changes to the Treaty of Waitangi are taking place if we [Maori] are supposed to have a voice in Parliament."

Ms Taumanu said Hoani Waititi would have a similar message, directed at Maoridom. "We want to remind Maori of our ties to the sea and why we can't let it go."

What the judges are looking for

Each group will be judged on the following items:

Waiata tira (choral)

Whakaeke (entry)

Waiata moteatea (traditional song)

Waiata-a-ringa (action song)

Poi

Mau rakau (taiaha performance by males)

Haka (male war dance)

Mau rakau or haka taparahi (for female groups)

Whakawatea (exit)

When marking judges will generally look for:

Quality of Maori language (pronunciation, grammar, poetic licence)

Portrayal of theme

Volume / richness

Correct use of instruments (poi, taiaha, patu)

X-factor

Herald Feature: Polyfest

Official site: Auckland Secondary Schools Maori & Pacific Islands Festival (Polyfest)

* Thursday March 16 to Saturday March 20
(powhiri starts at 8.30am)
Manukau Sports Bowl