Rangatahi use kapa haka to share identity, stories and healing

The country's top secondary school kapa haka are preparing to take the stage in Friday's national finals in Tauranga Moana, after four days of powerful performances celebrating culture, whakapapa and identity.

Nine finalists have emerged from more than 40 rōpū from across Aotearoa, those being: Te Maurea Whiritoi, Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, Manukura, Te Kapa Haka o Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae, Te Reo Whakakoko o Mauao, Ngā KKM o Te Puku o Te Ika a Māui, Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere, Te Kapa Haka o Te Koutu and Te Wharekura o Māngere.

While national titles would be decided by the end of the day, many of the rangatahi said the greatest reward had already come from standing alongside one another, sharing the stories of their people and celebrating who they are.

"For me, it's a way of healing. My Whare Tapa Whā, that's important to me in my life," Kingi Poi of Ngā Puna o Waiōrea told RNZ.

His close friend Maioha shared the same sentiment.

"It's a way for me to let go of everything I've been holding onto mentally. When I got on that stage, I leave everything on the atamira. I don't have anything left on me. I'm happy."

The Year 10 tauira said kapa haka gave them the opportunity to express themselves while carrying the legacy of those who had stood before them.

"[It's about] the history. All the people that came before us."

Across the week, brackets explored whakapapa, mana motuhake, identity and contemporary issues facing Māori communities, while many rōpū also honoured tūpuna and respected Māori leaders.

It was also used as a platform to express their concerns with the current political landscape.

"It's a way to share our stories, share who we are as rangatahi Māori," Te Pū o Te Wheke kaihaka Te Atamahina Warren said.

"It was such a privilege to be able to stand... and tell our stories through waiata and haka."

Every kaihaka, kaiako and whānau that RNZ spoke to said what was evident throughout the entirety of the week was kotahitanga, unity.

"Āe, kitea ana konei," Warren said.

The calibre of performances had drawn praise from kaiako, judges and spectators alike.

Haukāinga Kaikaranga Mauria Ngatoko Rahipere previously said the next generation was taking performances to the next level.

"The generation of today, they are taking kapa haka to another level. So much so that our pakeke groups actually need to work harder."

Behind every performance was months of preparation, and countless hours from kaiako, whānau and supporters.

The ihi, wehi and wana that performers provide could not have been done without the support of whānau who met kaihaka with embraces, tears and cheers after their stand.

Henrietta and Steve Codyre had watched all six of their tamariki perform with Te Wharekura o Whānau Tahi.

An overwhelming sense of pride hit them both as they watched their pōtiki, Kadene Codyre, lead his kura for his final year.

"A box of tissues is what's needed," Henrietta said laughing.

"It makes my heart burst...I'm about to start crying," Steve said.

The whakataetae (competition) which is hailed as Te Matatini for rangatahi, had also drawn the eye of those living overseas.

Te Rau Aroha, a kapa of almost 40 rangatahi from Brisbane, travelled to Tauranga Moana to experience the competition firsthand.

Their dream was one day to stand on this very stage.

Chair Emma Carter said despite common perceptions, Māori communities across Australia were thriving and working hard to keep their culture alive.

"There is a huge Māori community within Logan, Brisbane, Australia, who live kaupapa ... every day to provide these kinds of opportunities for our tamariki," Carter told RNZ.

"And I guess just a message to our whānau here to create an inclusive environment within this kapa competition, to include our tamariki who work every day and strive to be here."

The journey now comes down to nine, with the country's kaihaka and kaiārahi of the future aiming for the national title.

Performances can be streamed for free via the Whare Kōrero app and MĀORI+.