Setting in motion a taonga to honour House Haka
19 Jun 2026
A new taonga highlights the importance of the House Haka competition at Christ’s College, with a stunning carving by Master Carver Rawiri Koia to have pride of place in the winning House.
Commissioned and then gifted by the Mckenzie-Huria whānau at Assembly, the taonga – a mounted hoe (paddle) – represents the journey of Te Rūmatatūa, as it takes a team to move a waka as one.
As Rawiri Koia explains, the hoe – titiled Te Rūmatatūa o Pūtaringamotu – is “a symbol of kotahitanga (unity)”. Its intricate work includes pounamu to represent the South Island, and puhoro, a traditional design for water found on the hull of a waka. The puhoro “symbolises movement and flow when performing” while referencing “melody, harmony” and the “movement of sound”.
The taonga has been accepted by Senior Deputy Headmaster Darrell Thatcher and welcomed with a powerful student haka.
Returning to College for the presentation, Old Boys Jack and Tai Mckenzie share that “this taonga carries a lot of meaning for our whānau”.
“When I first started at Christ’s College, kapa haka was only beginning to be introduced, and the House Haka competition didn't even exist,” Jack says. “To see haka becoming such a strong and significant part of the school is really special.
“For my whānau, to be able to gift something that recognises that growth, and for the taonga to be named in connection with our whānau and Pūtaringamotu (Riccarton Bush) is a great privilege and honour. We hope this taonga stands as a reminder of the mana, pride, and wairua (spirit) that haka brings to the school, and that it continues to grow stronger for future generations of students.”
Both Jack and Tai have held leadership roles during their time at College, having been Heads of Biculturalism in their respective final years, while their parents, Louie Mckenzie and Tania Huria, have strongly supported the school’s bicultural journey.
