Kapa Haka/Māori Performing Arts
Kapa Haka
All students from years 7 to 9 will have an opportunity to learn kapa haka and its origins. It is important that students understand the importance of the tikanga behind performance and this is instilled in them by their tutor Kahura Cameron. In Term 2 all students from years 7-13 will have an opportunity to learn waiata Māori also. The focus will be to teach students to sing, build confidence, knowledge and the desire to want to participate in kapa haka at Ōtaki College with Whāea Maha.
Tama-nui-te-ra had two wives, Hine-takurua and the Summer maid Hine-raumati. The child of Tama-nui-te-ra and Hine-raumati, Tane-rore is credited with the origin of dance.
Tane-Rore is the personification of shimmering air as he performs a haka for his mother Hine-ruamati. The wiriwiri trembling hand action performed during the haka dance is a physical representation of the shimmering heat referred to in 'Te haka a Tanerore'. It is Māori belief that on occasions when the land is so hot that the air shimmers, you can see Tane-rore perform a haka for his mother. The wiriwiri or shimmering air is reminiscent of his trembling hand actions. Timoti Karetu talks Kapa Haka
Kahura teaches Kapa Haka every Wednesday, period 1 to the students who participate in Te Roopu Kapa Haka. For those students who wish to compete in Kapa Haka competitions at a regional and national level they are encouraged to join Otaki Te Rahui Kura which is the combined Kapa Haka group of Te Kura - a - Iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito and Otaki College.