Kapa Haka – connection, community and culture
02 Feb 2023
Nearly 100 parents and boys have gathered in the College Dining Hall for the annual Kapa Haka community breakfast.
Head of Māori & Indigenous Studies Keri Campbell says the event brings together College Kapa Haka group parents, along with boys who are members of the group, and those boys who wish to join.
“Kapa Haka is core to College and parents are integral to its success and that community connection across all year groups,” Keri says. “It provides a pathway to sharing our culture, language, and heritage.
“Seeing the Year 9s interacting with the senior students throughout the school as part of that community connection captures the success of being part of Kapa Haka at College.”
On Thursday morning, the boys have also shared their performance skills while parents have had the opportunity to meet nationally recognised composer and tutor Te Huaki Puanaki and learn more about the role of Kapa Haka at College.
The Kapa Haka group gathers for breakfast in the Dining Hall every Thursday before their practice sessions where the boys learn waiata, haka, and moteatea (lament).
“Kapa Haka is a unique way for both our Māori and non-Māori students to express their equally unique identity as people of Aotearoa New Zealand.”
