Local teams battle in kapa haka contest

Fierce competition by performers taking part in the national secondary school's kapa haka contest made for difficult judging but delighted visitors watching.

Te Arawa's group Te Roopu Manaaki from Western Heights High School was placed fourth overall in the competition.

Nga Kura Tuarua 2012 (National Secondary School's Kapa Haka Competition) event organiser Johnny Waitii said it was a real battle on stage between the 43 school groups taking part.

Five Rotorua schools in four groups were represented at the biennial event held in Whangarei last week at Kensington Stadium - Rotorua Lakes High, Western Heights High, Rotorua Girls' and Boys' High Schools combined and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata.

"It was very close. A lot of people were saying the standard between the groups is diminishing. It's getting smaller and they are all becoming harder to beat. It's really good," he said.

The hundreds of spectators each day were totally mesmerised from the first performance on day one right through to the final performance by the combined Rotorua Girls and Boys High Schools group, Mr Waitii said.

"People really enjoyed the performances. They just loved it. We got so much positive feedback," he said.

First place went to Waikato's Te Roopu Kapa Haka o Nga Taiatea, runners up were Te Piringa from Palmerston North's Boys' and Girls' High Schools combined group while Gisborne's Turanga Wahine Turanga Tane (combined Gisborne Girls' and Boys' High Schools) was awarded third place. Western Heights High Schools, Te Roopu Manaaki group came fourth.

Te Roopu Manaaki assistant Dan Vaaka said all 46 performers needed to be proud of themselves as they represented Te Arawa and their school well at the competition: "It was awesome. They should be proud of their achievements," he said.

The next event to be held in 2014 will be hosted by Tairawhiti, Gisborne.

Full results were expected to be posted online this week by the competition's organisers.

More photos, page 6

Go to www.dailypost.co.nz for video footage of performances from Western Heights High School and Rotorua Lakes High School.