Senior Māori recapture their youth through kapa haka

Friday, 22 June 2018

Māori elders are reclaiming their childhood this weekend at a special kaumatua kapa haka contest.

Many senior Māori never got the chance to perform the songs that were important to their heritage, in their younger years. 

Tūwharetoa Kaumatua kapa haka group, Ngā Taikura o Tūwharetoa, is one of the 16 groups from around the country heading to Te Papa in Wellington to perform at the Taikura Kapa Haka.

The group of mainly women age 50-85, has been practising since December.  

Organiser Les Owen said the event allowed them to share stories through waiata [song], kapa haka. 

Horiana Rolleston, 73, said she never got the chance to be part of a kapa haka group in her school years.

'It is claiming part of our heritage. In my lifetime it was lost so this is important.

'It is to reclaim our childhood with our own people and tribe…it is a priority for a lot of us.'

Owen said the kapa haka practises had the bonus of bringing the elders together.

Te Atamiri Winitana, 85, said

 the vision was about improving health as well as the enjoyment of taking part in cultural activities and performances.

Kapa haka tutor Julia Wade has been helping bring everyone up to speed with the actions.

She said the group will perform seven different songs.

'They are songs that belong to our tribe,' said Winitana.

'Waiata before 1970, nothing modern.'

Taikura Kapa Haka is part of Te Papa's Matariki Festival.

The Tūwharetoa  group will perform on Saturday [2-2.20pm] and Sunday [1.30-1.50pm] and the performances are live streamed on YouTube and then available at Te Papa's website.