Raukura more than hold their own

Raukura kapa haka members Tawhirimatea Witoko (left), Wirihana Te Rangi, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black and Ruatahapari Sadlier-Morunga. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Raukura kapa haka roopu has continued its strong legacy of being one of the best in the country.

Months of hard work paid off for the the combined Rotorua Boys' and Girls' high school group who came second at the recent Secondary Schools National Kapa Haka Championships in Gisborne. They've consistently reached the top five since 2010.

Co-tutor Jamus Webster said being a part of Raukura was a lifestyle rather than just a group preparing for a competition.

"People strive to do well at the competition but we approach it a little differently. We want them to have good values and good practices," Mr Webster said.

"One of the criteria to get into Raukura is attendance at school, achieving good grades and that they are good towards their parents. Once they qualify for that, we then select you on your kapa haka talents."

Competition was strong to join the group from both schools with up to 80 students from Rotorua Boys' High School trying out and 60-70 from Girls' High. The tutors, who are highly experienced senior kapa haka performers, included Mr Webster's siblings Kimiora and Talitha as well as Michael Rurehe and Laurelle Tamati. They selected 40 students to take to the stage at the nationals.

"Our build-up began around about April with an estimate of 200 hours in practice.We had a guy come and take them through fitness training, even in the senior groups it's becoming quite important, for a 30-minute performance you need all the energy you can get.

"When you're fit, it carries on to having a good attitude and you work a little bit harder."

Each section they performed on stage had its own context and meaning with their haka highlighting the problem of youth suicide.

Mr Webster said New Zealand had one of the worst suicide rates in the world with Maori male youth featuring high in the statistics.

"Too many of our children are being lost to it and it's about being aware of it and the need to speak up," he said.

"We likened it to a taniwha and we want to prevent it from continuing to take our kids."

Mr Webster said that while competitions were over for now, the tutors were still focused on seeing their students excel in school, do well in their upcoming exams and being able to help provide them with future kapa haka opportunities.