Kapa haka groups welcomed home (+video)

Kapa haka champions Raukura, along with three other local groups, have received a stirring welcome home from Te Arawa.

The groups were welcomed back at Tamatekapua marae today after returning from the National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition.

The competition was held in Napier last week and saw teams from around the country compete for the coveted first-place position.

Raukura, made up of 49 students from Rotorua Boys' and Rotorua Girls' High Schools, were announced the overall winners after they moved the audience to tears with their performance dedicated to the late Te Arawa leader Mauriora Kingi.

They were the only Rotorua group to make it to the competition's final round.

Kimiora Webster, Jamus Webster, Taletha Webster, Laurelle Tamati and Michael Rurehe tutor the group.

Students were welcomed onto the marae with a special pohiri. Inside, no seat was unoccupied and stirring waiata were sung after each speaker.

During the ceremony Raukura were not only acknowledged for their win but also how te reo is still alive, along with everything handed down from their ancestors.

Rotorua Girls' High School deputy principal Aramoana Mohi-Maxwell said the ceremony was "stunning on so many levels".

"It was such an honour to be able to bring the trophy back to the paramount courtyard of Te Arawa and celebrate with our kaumatua and kuia.

"It was a powerful moment to have everyone coming together and have the kuia and kaumatua of Ngati Whakaue want to share in this success - the meaning was not lost on the kids. The funding support and physical support Ngati Whakaue give to our schools is amazing."

She said the accolade was everyones and a legacy the students will be remembered by.

The other Rotorua groups were Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori Te Puku o Te Ika-aMaui (Te
Kura o Ruamata, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Hurungaterangi, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te
Whakarewarewa, Te Ara Ki Te Reo Ki Kuirau, and a Tuwharetoa team from Taupo), Te Ropu Manaaki (Western Heights High School) and Iti Rearea (Rotorua Lakes High School and Te Kura o Ngati Rongomai).