More than 300 Rathkeale College boys have bid farewell to the first term of the school year with their chests bared, and feet stomping in unison.
The students of Hillary, Blake and Halberg houses at the school staged an end-of-term haka competition on Thursday after learning over the past month the words and actions to the haka, Ko Wairarapa, from Whanau Ora Wairarapa workers Francis McNally-Te Maari and Shelley Grace, who are both seasoned kapa haka performers.
A hall full of students, teachers, parents and old boys of the school applauded each of the performances with Blake House seizing the winner's trophy, while Halberg House took second place and Hillary finished third.
The partnership with the Whanau Ora Wairarapa collective group was a first for the school and the boys, who had each performed in groups of about 100 according to their house allegiance, had been taught a modified version of the haka and had all risen to the occasion, Mr McNally-Te Maari said.
There also had been tuition for boys selected as haka leaders and the contest had been judged by PJ Devonshire, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa general manager, Pania Haruru, Whanau Ora Wairarapa pouarataki, team leader, and Andre Le Geyt, Whanau Ora Wairarapa pouwhakahaere, programme manager.
