By Denise Piper, Courtesy of Whangarei Leader

Whangarei kapa haka performers have made their ancestors proud by coming first equal in a regional competition.

Te Kapa Rau Aroha includes 40 performers from Whangarei Boys' and Girls' High Schools.

By Denise Piper, Courtesy of Whangarei Leader

Whangarei kapa haka performers have made their ancestors proud by coming first equal in a regional competition.

Te Kapa Rau Aroha includes 40 performers from Whangarei Boys' and Girls' High Schools.

It won a long line of awards at the Te Taitokerau regional kapa haka competition Maranga Mai e te Iwi, at Forum North on August 28.

With a disciplined, confident and passionate performance, Te Kapa Rau Aroha came first equal with Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rangianiwaniwa from the Far North.

The group also placed first equal in the whakaeke (entry), first in the waiata-a-ringa (action song), first in the poi, first in the haka, second in the whakawatea (exit) and third in the moteatea (traditional chant).

Both kaitataki leaders Ben Anderson and Patricia Smith also won their sections.

The success came after seven months of intense training every Tuesday and Thursday, plus weekend workshops.

Te Kapa Rau Aroha also competed on the national stage in July in Rotorua, representing Te Taitokerau and Ngapuhi.

As one of 40 secondary teams, the national competition was an eye-opener for the group.

Members got to witness what it takes to be number one by watching the performance of national winners Ritana, from Lytton High School in Gisborne.

Te Kapa Rau Aroha view kapa haka as a way of expressing themselves, telling stories of old, and representing their rohe, hapu and their tupuna or ancestors.

Although the regional competition was not a qualifier for the national secondary schools competition the group saw it as an opportunity to upskill their performance, perform for family unable to attend the nationals, and to support the primary and intermediate schools performing.

Te Kapa Rau Aroha is thankful to all of those who helped in their journey to the nationals and regionals, and the team is now looking forward to a rest for the year.