Juniors perform legend of Aokehu

TANIWHA: Molly Ranginui, 6, with the rest of her junior school classmates, prepares for the Castlecliff School performance yesterday afternoon. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 020715WCSMPRODUCTION1

The legend of the Whanganui River taniwha Tutaeporoporo and brave warrior Aokehu came to life on stage at Castlecliff School yesterday with the presentation of the school's 2015 production.

Directed and produced by Jessica Kahukura, Aokehu the Taniwha Slayer, tells the story through Maori, English and NZ Sign language with songs and dances performed to a musical score, written by Ms Kahukura and Hemi Gray.

All the school's pupils had a part to play and the junior school made their own taniwha, and wore shark jaws and fins for their performance.

Principal Katherine Ellery said the production was the school's way of reporting to the community on the school's arts programme and pupils would be assessed on their performances.

"They got to show their talents in visual arts, music, dance, speech and acting and it came together brilliantly - it was the first time I had seen it all the way through and it was a wonderful show."

Mrs Ellery said the aim of staff at Castlecliff School was to enable children to be comfortable in Maori and pakeha worlds. "I don't believe anyone in the audience would have felt out of place or confused during the performance and I feel very proud of the pupils and staff for their wonderful efforts."

One of the cast members in Aokehu the Taniwha Slayer yesterday was a ring-in from St Anne's School, which was closed after the floods.

"She came with her mother who teaches here, while she couldn't go to her own school and she was so good, we had to have her in the production," Mrs Ellery said.

The second school term of the year ends today for most schools, and many in the region have ended their final week on a high, with productions going ahead despite flooding and road closures.