House Haka Competition
25 May 2017
On a brilliant sunny Autumn day today, the Williams Quad and neighbouring Hagley Park rang to the war-like sounds of the haka as College Houses battled to take this year’s title. Richards House emerged victorious, followed by Flower’s House, then Harper.
Judge Dave Brennan says the standard had really improved this year and it was great to see the different Houses making changes to their tempo, their pronunciation and their wiri – hand movements – all of which they were judged on. The pronunciation of the top three Houses showed definite improvements, he says.
Te Reo teacher Steve Everingham was also pleased with the standard of the performances this year.
“It was a great effort and, as the Te Reo teacher, I was impressed with the Year 9s, who have all taken part in the haka in class and have talked about the meaning of the words and the gestures of the haka. They were able to take part with improved confidence, embracing the actions because they understood what they were doing and why they were doing it.
“Several Houses were very lucky to have had the input from Flower’s House tutor Bradley Hemopo and this had an obvious impact. Next year, I would like to see all Houses embrace the additional actions which the First XV have incorporated into their haka and we can also concentrate on better timing.’’
Judges Dave Brennan and Tyson rated each House on two scales. The kaea or leadership marking was for discipline, volume, pronunciation, intensity and timing. The actual haka was marked for discipline, pronunciation, accuracy of actions, timing, intensity and performance as a team.
