Our vibrant Kapa Haka group is a dynamic ensemble of many of our students, spanning from Year 4 to Year 8. Under the guidance of our dedicated instructors, Mātua Norm and Whaea Bonnie, the group comes together for weekly practices, embracing the rich traditions of Māori culture.
We think it is a deeply valuable component of our curriculum as it captures the history, the power of the language and the power of the music which enables students to form a positive identity, connecting with their whanau and establishing a place of belonging.
Moreover, kapa haka cognitively challenges all tamariki while teaching them about exercising perseverance and self-discipline and enables learning through aroha, manaakitanga ( respect and care for others ) and whānaungatanga ( a sense of belonging through shared experiences and working together )
Through Kapa Haka, Māori students are able to experience a holistic way of learning – which is conducive to a sense of well-being (hauora).
For tamariki who are tangata whenua it gives them a chance during school time to connect with their māori tanga and develop their leadership skills and confidence through being part of a group with māori values, fun and friendship at its core. Kapa haka provides an avenue for māori students to access the māori world and be culturally-connected learners.
Our talented Kapa Haka students proudly represent our school in various competitions across the North Canterbury and in the Christchurch area, showcasing their cultural prowess. With performances at events like Tūhono in Ōtautahi and Tuahiwi Kā Matakura O Ruataniwha (North Canterbury Kapa Haka Competition), our group celebrates the art of storytelling through waiata and haka, fostering a strong sense of unity and cultural appreciation among our students.
We offer Waiata/Kapa haka for the whole school Year 0 – Year 8 every week.
Kaitataki
Each year we select 2 tamariki to take on a more tuākana role within the Kapa haka ropu and to be more involved in the organisation of some of the already established cultural practices within our kura such as helping the school learn the waiata, karakia and kīwaha we use each term. They help our tamariki to develop a deeper level understanding of cultural practices, their associated tikanga and they learn to share confidently with the kura.
They assist the kaiako in charge of Kapa Haka and Kapa Haka tutors at junior waiata/kapa haka sessions by mirroring the actions for our younger students to copy and by encouraging them to be their best.
Matariki Biannual hangi and breakfast
Matariki is celebrated to mark the beginning of the Māori New Year, typically in June or July, when the Pleiades star cluster reappears in the dawn sky. It is a vital time for reflection, honoring the dead, celebrating the present with family (whānau), and planning for the future.
Here at Ashley Rakahuri we celebrate every year as a school with ALL of our whānau and friends. We hold a hangi and Matariki Breakfast on a bi-annual basis, a Hangi one year and a Matariki breakfast the following year. We are so lucky to be supported by former Ashley Rakahuri families, pupils and our amazing PTA at these events.
School Pepeha
Ko Maukatere te Maunga
Our mountain, Maukatere
(Mount Grey) stands above us;
Ko Waimakariri, ko Rakahuri ngā Awa
Our rivers – Waimakariri and Rakahuri – flow below;
Ko Tūāhuriri te Tangata
Tūāhuriri is our ancestor.
