April 19, 2021
Connection with tupuna drives Polyfest winners
A tutor of Polyfest winning team Ngā Puna o Waiōrea says rangatahi were hungry to get on stage after a two-year break from competition performance.
Pere Wihongi says the Western Springs College roopu was lucky to come out on top given the calibre of kapa haka coming out of Auckland secondary schools.
In a last minute change to their set, Waiōrea performed a tribute to Pīwai Te Morehu Tuhua from Ngāi Tūhoe, the composer of classics such as He Hōnore, who died a fortnight ago.
The song they chose was composed for Ruatāhuna Kākahu Mauku at Te Matatini 2007.
"And it speaks of finding that connection with our tūpuna, and that is exactly what kapa haka does not only for the performers we commonly see on stage but specifically for our tamariki and our kids based here in urban Tāmaki Makaurau," Mr Wihongi says.
The other roopu from Tāmaki Makaurau which will go through to next year's secondary schools Māori performing arts championships are Hoani Waititi, Kia Aroha College and James Cook High School.
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