Te Wharekura o Ngā Purapura o Te Aroha hosted last year’s kapa haka festival. Photo: Benjamin Wilson
Te Awamutu’s longstanding kapa haka festival Te Rā Whakamana Rangatahi is set to make an “exceptional” return – in September 2024.
It’s been confirmed the 2023 event will not go ahead.
Last November’s festival in Te Awamutu at Te Wharekura o Ngā Purapura o Te Aroha, attracted nine schools and early childhood centres from the greater Te Awamutu area.
Kihikihi School was to host this year’s festival, initially planned for later this year.
Principal Sunny West told The News a collaborative approach was key, and the postponement would give organisers time to work towards creating a positive event for the community.
“The festival is a wonderful celebration of our students and their commitment to kapa haka,” she said.
A joint letter written by organisers to the wider Te Awamutu school community said the collective decision had been made after “careful consideration and extensive discussions” among participating schools.
“The decision was reached with the intention of enhancing the festival’s organisation, and overall experience for our rangatahi,” it said.
“In the past, the responsibility for hosting the Te Rā Whakamana Rangatahi… rested solely on one school. While that approach had its merits, we have recognised the tremendous potential in collaborating as a community of schools to ensure the success of this important event and ensure its sustainability.
“We firmly believe that by working together we can create a more sustainable, vibrant and memorable festival that continues to uphold the intent of the event,” the letter went on to say.
Sunny said when the festival does return it would resume its annual schedule.
“Because one school is not solely responsible for all the organisation, and because our Te Awamutu schools work so well together as a collaborative group, it made sense to combine it as a community event.
“We have an outstanding committee of really committed schools.”
The decision to postpone this year’s festival had been made with the “utmost consideration” for its future, the joint statement said.
“By allowing for more time to plan and coordinate the festival collectively, we can better plan an experience that ensures all schools have an opportunity to participate, as well as help manage the event,” the letter said.
Following the postponement, schools would be actively engaged in “collaborative efforts” to bring the festival to fruition.
There was a sense of excitement as schools embarked on the collective journey of “… pooling our resources, knowledge and passion to create an unforgettable event that reflects… strength and unity…” the statement said.
It added that while news of the postponement would come as a disappointment, “we firmly believe that the benefits gained from this collaborative approach will far outweigh any temporary inconvenience.”
“By working together, we can ensure Te Rā Whakamana Rangatahi kapa haka festival’s legacy continues as it was intended when it first began.
“We believe that this postponement will ultimately lead to a stronger, more inclusive event that will leave a lasting impact on our rangatahi and our wider school community.”
Kihikihi deputy principal Cedric Kapa, son and student Wiremu Kapa, and wife and teacher Erin Keremeta-Kapa at last year’s Te Rā Whakamana Rangatahi. Photo: Benjamin Wilson
