‘Heretaunga haukūnui ararau haaro te kahu takoto noa ringahora’

Kapa haka fosters a sense of cultural identity and pride among students at Mahora School, enhancing their connection to Māori heritage. It also promotes teamwork and discipline, as students must work together to perfect their performances. Kapa haka is open to all tamariki and is enjoyed by all. Nau mai, haere mai.

During kapa haka, tamariki learn about Ngāti Kahungunu mātauranga (knowledge) through mōteatea, waiata, and haka. Kapa haka is an expression that serves not only as an artistic outlet but also as a vital conduit for cultural transmission, preserving and sharing Māori traditions, languages, and values through music, dance, and storytelling. Young learners deepen their understanding of ancestral heritage, fostering a sense of identity and belonging. The collaborative environment of kapa haka encourages teamwork and mutual respect. Ngāti Kahungunu knowledge is woven into their learning journey to help nurture well-rounded individuals who are deeply connected to their roots. 

We have roles and responsibilities as a leader for our Year 6 students to strive towards. We choose two tama and two kōtiro who show the different criteria required to become our Kaitātaki (Kapa Haka leaders) . The role of Kaitātaki Tama and Kaitātaki Kōtiro is to motivate, tautoko, manaaki, guide and lead within our Kapa Haka roopu, our kura and also out in our community. We hui once a week to enhance their confidence in sharing pepeha, to korero reo Māori and to have a kete full of knowledge and understanding of te ao Māori.

Ko te kapa haka e whakatupu ana i te tuakiri ahurea me te whakahīhī i waenga i ngā tauira o Te Kura o Mahora, e whakapakari ana i tō rātou hononga ki te taonga tuku iho Māori. Ka whakatairanga hoki i te mahi ngātahi me te mahi tahi, i te mea me mahi ngātahi ngā tauira ki te whakapai ake i ā rātou mahi. He wātea te kapa haka ki ngā tamariki katoa, ā, e pārekareka ana ki te katoa. Nau mai, haere mai.

I roto i te kapa haka, ka ako ngā tamariki i te mātauranga o Ngāti Kahungunu mā roto i te mōteatea, waiata, me te haka. He whakapuakitanga te kapa haka e mahi ana, ehara i te mea he putanga toi anake, engari he ara nui hoki mō te tuku ahurea, te tiaki me te tiritiri i ngā tikanga, reo, me ngā uara Māori mā te puoro, kanikani, me te whakakitenga kōrero. Ka hōhonu ake te māramatanga o ngā ākonga ki te taonga tuku iho, ka whakatupu i te tuakiri me te whai wāhi. Ko te taiao mahi ngātahi o te kapa haka ka whakatairanga i te mahi ngātahi me te whakaute tahi. Ka rarangahia te mātauranga o Ngāti Kahungunu ki roto i tā rātou haerenga ako hei āwhina i te whakatipuranga o ngā tāngata whai wāhi nui e piri ana ki ō rātou pakiaka.

He tūranga me ngā haepapa tā te kaiārahi mō ā mātou tauira Tau 6 hei whai atu. Ka kōwhiria e mātou ngā tama tokorua me ngā kōtiro tokorua e whakaatu ana i ngā paearu rerekē e hiahiatia ana hei Kaitātaki mō tō mātou roopu Kapa Haka. Ko te mahi a te Kaitātaki Tama me te Kaitātaki Kōtiro he whakaoho, he tautoko, he manaaki, he ārahi i roto i tō mātou roopu Kapa Haka, i tō mātou kura me te hapori hoki. Ka hui mātou ia wiki ki te whakapakari i tō rātou māia ki te tiritiri i te pepeha, ki te kōrero i te reo Māori, me te whai kete mātauranga me te māramatanga o te ao Māori.