Kapa Haka Performance

Today in Assembly, we watched a traditional Maori performance by a small kapa haka group.

First, the kapa haka group performed an entrance ceremony by blowing a horn and introducing themselves in Maori. They presented their kapa haka dance and talked about their traditional Maori weapons which were poi, taiaha and ti rakau. 

The poi and ti rakau are training tools that help develop dexterity for other weapons. The taiaha is a proper weapon.

Next, we sang He Honore to thank them for their dance, and our boys kapa haka group responded with a haka performance. The boys kapa haka group did the pukana in their dance as well.

After that, the classes split up to play some cultural games. The game we were taught was called Matau and Maui. Each person holds a stick, and when someone calls out Maui, we have to grab the stick to our left. When someone calls out Matau, we grab the stick to our right. 

This game taught us coordination skills and cooperation. This game is good for teaching soldiers how to coordinate and work together.

I really enjoyed watching the Maori performances that were presented in Assembly, and I especially liked playing Matau and Maui. This was a good opportunity to learn about the Maori culture.

LI: to experience and learn kapa haka.