Kapa haka group does district proud

SUPERB: Te Reanga Morehu o Ratana in rehearsal two years ago, with Te Oranga Tamou at the front. She was third of all female kapa haka leaders at Te Matatini this year and the group was in the top half of all competitors. PHOTO/FILE A-160213WCBRCKA02

Ratana's kapa haka group only started in the 1990s, so coming 17th out of the 45 at Te Matatini was a great achievement, leader Te Taepa Kameta says.

The two-yearly national kapa haka competitions finished last Sunday in Christchurch, and the group returned home the next day.

Te Reanga Morehu o Ratana came third for its waiata tira (choral work), with a song written by Mr Kameta.

It was dedicated to the late Morvin Simon and Jacinta Patea from Te Matapihi, and Te Pakinga of the Patea Maori Club. People appreciated the thought, he said.

Te Reanga's female leader, Te Oranga Tamou, was ranked third out of all the female leaders. There are many from her Tamou-Hemi family in the kapa haka line-up, with a 16-year-old Te Oranga likely to be one of the next.

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"There are many now who are the age to step up and others ready to hang up their bodice and become supporters."

Te Reanga had 15 supporters, including matriarch Te Oranga Hemi, 87, who got to Christchurch before the performers. They arrived to find their accommodation had been given away. After some angst and prayers, beds were found through family members.

It was a hitch but Mr Kameta said the festival was awesome, overall.

There were 36 performers in the Te Reanga group. Most have affiliations to the Whanganui River, but were born and bred in Ratana Pa. Some of their costs were covered by a Pakaitore Trust donation of $5000.

Mr Kameta has been tutoring the group for about 15 years, and said its achievements were down to many people, including its supporters.

He wrote most of this year's material. The theme was kauhautia te rongopai - preach the gospel.

Three other groups from the Aotea region competed at Te Matatini. Waitara's Nga Purapura o Te Tai Hauauru came 27th, Whanganui's Te Matapihi 34th and Taranaki's Tutu Kahika was 45th.