July 04, 2018
Rangatahi tackle tough themes in kapa contest
One of the organisers of this week’s national Māori secondary schools cultural competition in Palmerston North says the audience has been amazed at the quality of performance and the themes being tackled.
The 41 teams have been divided into three pools.
On Thursday judges will announce the top three from each day's pool who will contest the final on Friday.
Nick Fonotoe from Manukura says performances are addressing the concerns of young Māori.
"Themes about depression, suicide, bullying, cyber-bullying through social media, these are really pertinent to our rangatahi. The world they live in is totally different from their parents and grandparents. hearing those kaupapa in the context of te ao Māori through our waiata, our mahi ā ringa, haka, poi, awesome to see," he says.
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