Kahungunu kapa haka competition
Posted 4 March 2010 // Emily Tutaki
Kapa haka group
Over the last couple of months, I have been travelling between Wellington and Pōrangahau to attend kapa haka practices with Tamatea Arikinui. It is one of six kapa haka groups practising for the Kahungunu regionals. The competition will be held on 13 March at Te Aute College and the top two teams will go through to Te Matatini. There are 13 regions, and each are having their own regionals.
The performances consist of seven different types of waiata (songs).
- Waiata-ā-tira - choral singing
- Whakaeke - choreographed entry
- Mōteatea - traditional chants or dirges
- Poi - movement with poi (ball attached to string)
- Waiata-ā-ringa - action song
- Haka - war dance
- Whakawātea - choreographed exit.
The regionals are being held all around the country from now until August. Kahungunu regionals are now only a week away and, with our dress rehearsal over, it’s time for us to rest our voices and bodies to prepare for the big day.
Good luck! And have fun Emily
I wonder who goes to them? Apart from the performers I mean. A good one would be amazing to watch. Do extras ever turn up? Pakeha, or visitors to New Zealand.
Thank you Julia! It should be a good day.
Anyone is able to attend, but it is mainly people interested in Kapahaka and all the performers families that make up the main audience.
Best wishes to you and your group for a great performance, Emily. Why don’t you include a video clip in a future posting?
Thanks Simon,
Yes I’ll try to find some video - if not I’ll definitely post some photos to Flickr!