Kapa haka efforts blow festival crowd away

Stacey Tukariri, 16, of Te Wharekura o Manurewa performs with his school team yesterday. Picture / Greg Bowker

The haka may have eyes rolling in some sectors of the Commonwealth Games community, but kapa haka performances at New Zealand's biggest secondary school cultural festival yesterday left crowds calling for more.

When James Cook High School's 50-strong kapa haka team hit the stage at the Auckland Secondary School Maori and Pacific Island Cultural Festival roars of support erupted among the crowd of more than 500.

The group, who finished second at last year's competition, were among teams performing on day one of the festival, now in its 31st year and running until Saturday.

More than 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the festival - dubbed Polyfest by organisers - with 8500 competitors from 62 schools taking part.

Day one was dominated by kapa haka performances and Pacific Island performers will take to the stage from today.

Karleen Bidois, 17, of James Cook High, said the atmosphere was "awesome."

The team's powerful performance inspired an impromptu and emotional haka from almost half of those watching.

Karleen Bidois said she was lost for words over the crowd's reaction.

"We are really pumping."

The team, ranging in age from 14 to 18, practised for more than a year in the hope of toppling last year's champions, West Auckland's Hoani Waititi.

Karleen Bidois said the James Cook haka, called Te Pohara te Tangata, had an important message for many in the community.

"We are saying, we are poor, but many still buy smokes and drink, and gamble. Why can't we put food on the table for our children?"

She said haka was a platform for performers to "let the world know what was important in life".

Rena Ahu of Mangere, said she was moved by the James Cook performance.

She said the haka told her that while Maori might not have money "there is love in the heart that money cannot buy".

She said was proud to be Maori and proud of the haka.

"I don't know what they [critics] are whingeing about. For me as a Maori seeing all those Pakeha [at the Commonwealth Games] doing the haka makes me feel we are all one people."

This year's festival has three days of kapa haka competitions. The 10 best teams of the 36 taking part compete in finals on Saturday.

Event spokesman Craig Seuseu said the festival drew more participants each year.

He said as well as Maori and Pacific Island performances, a diversity stage would showcase cultures from around the world, including Syrian, Sri Lankan, Middle Eastern, Chinese and Korean teams.


Big festival

What: Auckland Secondary School Maori and Pacific Island Cultural Festival
Where: Manukau Sports Bowl
When: From yesterday until Saturday
Who: 8500 performers, 62 schools, more than 100,000 spectators likely