Kids give a kapa haka lesson

Pride, not prizes, was on the line when close to 400 pupils took part in a kapa haka festival in Moerewa.

The annual Moerewa School kapa haka festival, held yesterday, aims to give pupils from Year 1 to 13 in the Ngati Hine rohe a chance to show off their skills in waiata-a-ringa (action songs), haka, poi and choral performance.

Principal Keri Milne-Ihimaera said kapa haka was part of the programme at every school taking part yesterday. The festival started five years ago to give the children a chance to put what they had learnt into practice.

It was also a chance for whanau to see their children in action, she said.

Every group received a certificate and a kowhai or miro tree, but no placings were awarded.

"It's pure enjoyment," Ms Milne-Ihimaera said.

All 240 Moerewa School pupils took part, along with teams from Bay of Island College, Kawakawa School, Te Kura o Waikare and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Taumarere.

Students of Kia Aroha College in Otara travelled from Auckland to perform in a combined group with senior students in a satellite unit at Moerewa School.