Celebrating the unique Style of Auckland Haka

‘Paaorooro’ 22 January 2007

Celebrating the unique Style of Auckland Haka.

The Tamaki Makaurau combined Kapahaka Concert if described by Manutaki Kaiarahi Dr Pita Sharples a “The Kapa Haka event to Kick off 2007”.

‘Paaorooro’ will be an extravaganza of Auckland’s unique style of haka, supporting the region’s top four traditional performance groups to the National Te Matatini Kapahaka festival being held in February.

Auckland’s longest standing competitive group Te Roopu Manutaki will take to the stage of the Auckland Girls Grammar’s, Dorothy Winston Auditorium, alongside newly formed Ngaa Tuumanako in a “tuakana teina kaupapa” says Dr Sharples. Both groups are based at West Auckland’s Hoani Waititi Marae, and while Te Roopu Manutaki is made up of people associated with the Marae, Ngaa Tumanako’s membership is formed from present and former students of the marae’s kura kaupapa Maori school, Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae, “we definitely look to Manutaki as our elder” says Ngaa Tumanako tutor Te Hira Paenga.

The two groups will be joined by another tuakana, teina duo with three time national champions, Te Waka Huia and their elite development group Te Manu Huia. With both roopu tutored by Kapahaka legends Ngapo and Pimia Wehi, the event will be about uniting the groups for the kaupapa rather than a Kapa Haka Standoff.

Based at Manukau Institute of technology, more than 80% of members from Te Waka Huia and Te Manu Huia have graduated from Maori tertiary provider, Pounamu Performing Arts.
Pounamu is owned and operated by members of the Wehi Family, they have performed for the likes of former US President Bill Clinton, Janet Jackson and Hip Hop Rap star Snoop Dogg. They are recognised as one of the Maori Premier Cultural Performance Groups in the World.

Although there is an underpinning theme of unity, there’s no hesitation in acknowledging the expectation of the four groups.
They were selected earlier this year to represent Auckland from the Tamaki Makaurau Regional Kapa Haka Competitions.
Over 12 groups competed in the competition held last June. The first four placings going to Te Waka Huia, Te Roopu Manutaki, Ngaa Tumanako and Te Manu Huia, respectively.
The Four groups will head to Manawatuu in February 2007 to compete in the Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival.

Tamaki Makaurau regional Te Matatini delegate and Te Waka Huia veteran Annette Wehi says, “These four roopu represent the diversity and excellence in kapahaka that exists in our rohe”.

‘Paaorooro’ will take place on Sunday the 28th of January at the Dorothy Winston Auditorium at Auckland Girls Grammar from 6pm-9pm and will feature other contemporary Maori Performances and MC’s for the night ‘Ask your Aunties’ co-Host Aroha Hathaway and Maori TV Rugby League commentator Dale Husband.

ENDS

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