Kapa Haka

Ko tōku reo tōku ohooho, ko tōku reo tōku māpihi maurea.
He tuku mihi tēnei ki tō tātou matua nui i te rangi mō ana manaakitanga nunui ki a mātou, e Pā tēnā koe.
Ki te Kīngi Māori a Tuheitia me tōna whānau me te whare Kāhui Ariki, pai mārire ki a rātou.
Ka tangi atu rā tātou ki a rātou kua haere ki tua o te ārai. Moe mai rā.
Huri noa ki a koutou te hunga ora, ngā tini whānau o te Kāreti o Peterehema, tēnā koutou katoa.

Kapa haka descends from the dances of Rehia, and the haka of Tanerore which continue to inspire us today. It combines stance, posture, movement and vocal expression as an avenue for Māori and non-māori alike to showcase our Polynesian cultural identity in New Zealand. This expression of culture is a powerful tool for the revitalisation of the Māori language, culture and stories and creates a sense of self-pride and identity for our Māori students.

Those involved in kapa haka here at Bethlehem College will have numerous opportunities to perform throughout the year and are instrumental in welcoming international groups and prestigious guests to our school. They also attend noho (overnight stay) once a term to help build relationships and focus on strengthening performance. Students in Kapa Haka not only learn a range of haka and waiata (songs) but also many aspects of our Māori culture and customs. We embed our faith into all that we do through kapa haka.  Our waiata, haka and performance are all centred around honouring God through cultural expressions.  

Māori mai, Tauiwi mai – Nau mai ki te rōpū nei.

Whether you are Māori or not, this is a fantastic opportunity to delve into New Zealand’s beautiful culture.