Ngā Huiarau o Kawakawa will be travelling all the way from Te Tai Tokerau in the Far North to Nelson for this year's national competition. Photo: Erica Sinclair Photography
Ngā Huiarau o Kawakawa will be travelling from Te Tai Tokerau in the Far North.
The biggest junior kapa haka event in the world begins next week - with tamariki from Kawakawa in the north to Ōtautahi, Christchurch taking to the stage in Whakatū (Nelson).
Te Mana Kuratahi national primary schools kapa haka competition will feature 45 primary schools from around Aotearoa, performing at the Trafalgar Centre from Monday.
Te Mana Kuratahi chairman Jack Te Moana said it was the first time the event had been held in four years and the competition had come a long way from when the first kura took to the stage 23 years ago.
Te Kura o Te Pāroa from Whakatāne were crowned Te Mana Kuratahi champions in 2019. Photo: Erica Sinclair Photography
"Our tamariki are extraordinary. You'll be seeing five year olds, our pīpī paopao mirroring the discipline, pride and perfection of their tū next to their 13-year-old tuakana.
"This is all part of the excellence and development of kapa haka - te mana o ngā tamariki, we'll see the fruits of it on the national stage in Whakatū."
Te Whānau o Te Maro from Tauranga Intermediate came second in the 2019 kapa haka competition. Photo: Kiriana Eparaima-Hautapu
He said the festival showcases the best of Māori culture through tamariki, as well as giving them the knowledge and skills to continue performing at secondary school level.
From there, they could move on to the pinnacle event for Māori performing arts, Te Matatini.
This will be the first full festival since the Covid-19 pandemic. It has had a $1 million funding boost from Te Matatini, the nationwide Māori performing arts festival and competition for kapa haka performers..
Te Wharekura o Ruatoki, from the Eastern Bay of Plenty, came third in 2019's Te Mana Kuratahi. Photo: Erica Sinclair Photography
Around 2,000 people are expected to arrive in Whakatū, Nelson, for the five-day event, which begins with a powhiri on Sunday.
The event is being hosted by the eight iwi of Te Tauihu o te Waka-a-Māui, with each iwi supporting six schools.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua board chair Olivia Hall said the festival was a must-see and and an opportunity to show visitors how vibrant and strong Te Toi Māori was in Te Tauihu.
"The talent and commitment from our local rangatahi and kura is immense. If you've never watched kapa haka before, watch this - the performances will be awe-inspiring."
Te Kura o Te Pāroa, winners in 2019. Photo: Erica Sinclair Photography
Each school has up to 25 minutes to perform six or seven items for judges, with points awarded in different categories.
There are also awards for the best waiata tira, costume, male and female leaders, whaikōrero, karanga, and original composition.
