Kapa haka group take centre stage

Nothing could stop "Aunty Bonnie" Amohau from taking to the kapa haka stage.

The 87-year-old, from Ngati Whakaue, walked on to the stage at Te Arawa Kapa Haka Regional competition last night with her group Te Roopu Kapa Haka o Ngati Whakaue ki te Papiouru with the aid of a walking stick.

She told The Daily Post she wouldn't have missed taking part for anything.

"It's a very part of my life ... I thought I would be the first taking my walking stick on stage," she said.

"I've been doing it all my life."

During the war years, Mrs Amohau, who grew up in Ohinemutu, went to Wellington where she performed with Ngati Poneke.

"No matter where you go, it connects you with people," she said of kapa haka.

Her group was the first of eight senior groups taking to the stage at the Energy Events Centre. Following a weekend of competition, the five top teams will represent Te Arawa at next year's national Te Matatini competition being hosted by the tribe in Rotorua.

Her group's tumuaki (chief executive) Pare Hakaraia said the older group was there to support younger performers also taking to the stage.

"We're here for the younger generation coming through ... these older performers bring their wairua [spirit] to the competition. Their mere presence holds a lot of value for the younger ones."

Loud applause erupted as each group performed last night.

Event organiser Monty Morrison said it was vital the older performers took part.

"I'm so proud. It's very important - they have so much knowledge," he said.

Used to performing or not, nerves seemed to take a hold of some performers as they prepared for their turn.

Pearl Te Rangi from Rotoiti's Te Hikuwai group said not even 35 years of performing eased the butterflies in her stomach.

"It's such a big part of our culture.

"We eat it, we sleep it, we dream it and we sing it - but there are still nerves every time."

The competition carried on today with 14 groups taking to the stage vying for a spot at the national Te Matatini Kapa Haka 2013 competition being hosted by Te Arawa.