Five Rotorua schools in national primary kapa haka competition

Rotorua Primary School pupils have been practising every day for Te Mana Kuratahi. Photo/Supplied

Five Rotorua schools are in Gisborne this week for Te Mana Kuratahi 2017 - The National Primary Kapa Haka Competition.

The schools, who qualified in the regional Te Arawa primary school kapa haka competition last year, will come up against more than 50 schools from around the country.

Rotorua Primary School associate principal Kristina Crouch said the pupils had been preparing and practising since regionals last year.

"For some of these kids it's a once in a lifetime experience.

"They have practised every single day for the last six months, even over weekends."

The schools are all keeping the kaupapa of their performances top secret until they take the stage in Gisborne.

"It's a part of who we are, our identity and our school," Crouch said.

"It's not unheard of for some whanau to enrol their kids in a school that's going to nationals."

There are 45 pupils from Rotorua Primary School taking place and while the youngest is only 8 the majority range in age from 10-13.

"Our kids are match fit, they are ready to go.

"They have heaps of whanau around them and they will also be spending time with each of the other Rotorua schools that are down there."

Crouch said the whanaungatanga between the schools and the kapa haka community was part of what made nationals so important.

"We're just excited and incredibly proud of them."

Te Wharekura o Ngati Rongomai students will be hoping to defend their title.

They are the three time regional Te Arawa primary school kapa haka champions.

When the schools will be performing:
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata - Performing 4.40pm Monday
Te Kura o Te Koutu - Performing 9.45am Tuesday
Rotorua Intermediate - Performing 3.15pm Tuesday
Te Wharekura o Ngati Rongomai - Performing 11.55am Wednesday
Rotorua Primary School - Performing 9am Thursday
Watch it live on the Maori television website.