Kapa haka performance of Te Maurea Whiritoi from the National Secondary School Kapa Haka Competition in 2022, where the team placed fourth in the finals.

Waiata Tira - Te Puaaingo (00:00)

This waiata tira narrates a tale of triumph amidst adversity. Through this waiata, our aim is to inspire our rangatahi to have unwavering self-belief, cultivate resilience, and liberate their minds from the burdens of the present. By doing so, their spirits can soar freely, enabling them to pursue their aspirations and dreams for tomorrow.

Whakaeke - Kimiora (3:36)

Firstly, this whakaeke gives us insight into the minds of our rangatahi and the impact of Covid-19 on their ability to participate in kapa haka. This item helps us understand the tensions that arose due to inhibited access to kapa haka in recent times.

Secondly, the use of Koro Ngāpō’s words are an acknowledgement of the legacy of Te Waka Huia that lives on within our kura. From 2005 up until today, members of Te Waka Huia have played a major role in shaping who Te Maurea Whiritoi is.

Thirdly, the Te Waka Huia legacy lives on today through our Te Ao Haka teacher at Hamilton Girls’ High School, Ngareta Takiari. The final kura huna is a tribute to her aunty, Aroha Cassidy-Nanai. With this acknowledgement we encourage Te Maurea Whiritoi to actively live up to and fulfil reo and tikanga Māori so that we do not leave the perpetuation of Māoritanga to “te koraha noa pea, porepore mai ana, e”.

Whaikōrero (7:35)

Waiata tawhito - Te Ao Mārama (9:38)

Te Ao Mārama is the name of our marae ā-kura at Hamilton Girls’ High School. Master carver, Mana Forbes, led a group based at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to create the whakairo for the whare. For many years, the kōrero behind the carvings have not been taught or well-known. This pātere is a product of the aspiration to holdfast to that knowledge, with a particular focus on prominent wāhine rangatira of Tainui to inspire our wāhine of Hamilton Girls’ High School. Furthermore, the final verse acknowledges Te Ao Mārama as a safehaven for the rangatahi of Te Maurea Whiritoi, a place where aspirations for the future can be nurtured, explored and realised, “kia puea ai ngā rangatahi ki te whai ao, ki te ao mārama”.

Waiata ā-ringa - Iho o te Tupurangaroa (12:32)

This song laments the devastating effects that man have had on the environment. With this waiata, we personify the land with the question: If we do not look after mother earth now, how will she look after future generations? This waiata reminds us how important it is to live sustainably so that our children can enjoy the world as our ancestors once did.

Poi - Kūmara Irikura (15:53)

The subliminal messages of our poi are centered around the care of a family, where the kūmara irikura (a treasured sweet potato) represents a precious child. The current world is inundated with negative influences that are far greater than any that have existed in the past. Social media is an example of a modern-day phenomena that is destroying the lives of many young people. If we do not meticulously care for our children like we used to care for our food gardens, they may rot away like the pīwaiwai (rotten kūmara) of a neglected garden.

Haka - Mahia te Mahi (19:44)

Inspired by the thoughts of our Te Maurea Whiritoi students on education, this haka challenges the whakatauākī of Apirana Ngata, “ko tō ringa ki ngā rākau a te Pākehā, hei ora mō tō tinana”. It does this by holding The Ministry of Education (MOE) and teachers to account for the lack of culturally sustaining practices at the schools of Te Maurea Whiritoi, which ultimately sees our students questioning the value of education. The haka concludes by challenging both the MOE and teachers to turn their soothing words into action, “mahia te mahi”, for the betterment of our Māori students.

Whakawātea - Ngāti Oho, e oho! (22:31)

Journeying through the world of our rangatahi is brought to a conclusion with our whakawātea. Covid-19 exacerbated the polarising nature of social media, and uncovered an underbelly of conspiracy theorists that manipulated many people, including our Māori communities. This item encourages us to be more critical of what we see on social media platforms, and use our energy to engage in kaupapa that are more beneficial to Te Ao Māori and our mana Māori motuhake. Finally, in keeping with this notion, the item pays tribute to Rāwiri Waititi who has been spearheading many conversations pertinent to Te Ao Māori in recent times.