One last dress rehearsal before nationals

Te Rangi Aniwaniwa will host an end-of-Matariki concert at its Te Punawai-Ora (gymnasium) on Thursday evening as a celebration of Matauranga Maori, starting at 6pm, offering whanau and friends the chance to see the two kura kapa haka parties perform before the sold-out Whangarei national session on Thursday next week.

Te Rangi Aniwaniwa is one of three Tai Tokerau secondary finalists in the national secondary kapa haka competition that will take place at Kensington Stadium over Monday to Friday next week.

Hilda Halkyard-Harawira said it would be a privilege to represent the iwi of Muriwhenua and Ngapuhi Nui Tonu at a prestigious event that honoured Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori. The other northern kura competing were Whangarei Boys' and Girls' high schools and and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Hokianga ki Te Tonga.

Forty students have been selected to represent Te Rangi Aniwaniwa at the national podium of Maori excellence, with waiata, moteatea, poi and haka having been composed specifically for the event. Both the wharekura and kura teina (junior school) will also be represented at the Tai Tokerau kapa haka competition which will immediately follow the national secondary event (on Saturday week, July 28). Tutors Chris and Sandra Henare have alerted the kura whanau that as soon as the wharekura gets off the stage on Thursday they will turn their attention to Nga Mahuri juniors in preparation for that performance, which will be a qualifier for the 2013 national primary schools' kapa haka competition.

The wharekura will also perform again at the regional competition on the Saturday. Admission to Kensington Stadium that day should not be a problem although northern schools are known to bus whole communities to watch their children and mokopuna perform.

Meanwhile Te Rangi Aniwaniwa has raised $10,000 towards the cost of transport and accommodation for the teams that will contest the national and Tai Tokerau regional competitions. Proceeds from Thursday evening's concert will go towards the purchase of new bodices for the wharekura girls.

Pre-ordered meals will be on sale on Thursday, available from 5pm. The concert will start at 6pm with karakia, followed by Nga Mahuri and finally the wharekura. Anyone who is unable to attend is welcome to give a koha via the school office (phone 406-7677).