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Turakina Maori Girls School will take to the stage at the secondary schools kapa haka championships in Gisborne this afternoon, putting behind them the bus crash that left two of the team still in hospital.
Principal Terehia Channings says support from other teams has been wonderful, and the closely-knit roopu is recovering quickly with the girls now focused and prepared for competition.
She says performing arts have always been an important part of the school, which is currently in a rebuilding phase with just 65 pupils.
"Kapa haka is a huge part of our kura. Its part of our special character because what goes with kapa haka are things like te reo, things like tikanga and when we look at the Tiriti O Waitangi and every school is to acknowledge that, we're well placed. Maori boarding schools are well placed in terms of tikanga, te reo, karakia it goes hand in hand with that" says Terehia Channings
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TEREHIA CHANNINGS CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjA1NzI=
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