The tauira of Ngata Memorial College wrote the script and crafted the set and production of the Ruatepupuke story. Photo / Ngata Memorial College
The tauira of Ngata Memorial College wrote the script and crafted the set and production of the Ruatepupuke story. Photo / Ngata Memorial College
Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
As part of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, kaupapa Māori reporter Matai O’Connor learnt about a bilingual Ngāti Porou stage production created in Ruatōria.
Sharing pūrākau (stories) of Ngāti Porou to the wider world to help enrich the understandingof te ao Māori was front and centre at this week’s performances of Ruatepupuke at Ngata Memorial College.
Ruatepupuke: The Art of Whaikaro premiered during Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori in Ruatōria after months of mahi from Ngata students and staff.
It was important to tell these stories as “it’s who we are and for our students – it’s about being proud of where they come from”.
The play is bilingual but much of it is in te reo Māori, which reflects the kaupapa of the school and its vision of E Tipu E Rea.
Conrad Smith as Ruatepupuke. Photo / Ngata Memorial College
Conrad Smith, a Year 13 tauira (student) who plays the lead role of Ruatepupuke, said he got involved because he wanted to try acting after being inspired by seeing other actors.
“This has been a thrilling experience and the highlight of my time in Year 13,” he said.
Smith has enjoyed experiencing visceral emotions and raw passions while acting for a crowd.
“I have changed my career plans and now want to study acting at university, but I am open to offers.
“The Māori language is part of our identity. Although I am not the best te reo speaker, I respect it as something that is important to my heritage.”
Karma Rickard as Hinematikotai. Photo / Ngata Memorial College
Karma Rickard, a Year 12 student who plays Hinematikotai, said she got involved to experience playing a strong Māori role to inspire others.
She enjoyed learning the story and being a part of something big for the Tairāwhiti community.
“This has been really positive event for our school. Te reo is important to me because it is our language and my identity.”
Ngata principal Peter Heron said the play engaged tauira with a local curriculum, which stimulated their learning.
“The performance gives a culturally centred method of gaining NCEA credits. Our children have innate ability in the performing arts and our production allowed them to achieve as a byproduct of enjoyable learning.”
Dartanion Tokona-Taka as Manuruhi (left) with Conrad Smith as Ruatepupuke performing with other students on Wednesday evening. Photo / Ngata Memorial College
Heron said after Covid-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle, it was important for the college to return to the tradition of an annual production, which had not happened for many years.
The college hosted the regional Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competitions earlier this year and was up for the challenge of organising this event, which would improve the understanding of Māori culture across the coast, Heron said.
“After all, why do Shakespeare when Ngāti Porou has its own rich heritage of pūrākau, and the kura has staff that can transfer these stories from oral history to a script and a performance.”
Heron said they doubled their number of planned performances and nearly a thousand people come through the hall for the four sessions.
“This means that tamariki and whānau from our whenua were able to visualise the legends and, as a staff, we have been very proud of our students who have shown exceptional abilities in skills ranging from song and dance to stage management, lighting, directing and sound control.
The set and props were all inspired by Ngāti Porou story of Ruatepupuke. Photo / Ngata Memorial College
“Ngāti Porou have a very rich heritage and it is important that this is shared.”
Those who saw the performance said it was an emotional occasion and they felt proud of the rangatahi standing confidently and sharing pūrākau with others.
Matai O’Connor, Ngāti Porou, has been a journalist for five years and Kaupapa Māori reporter at the Gisborne Herald for two years.
