Kapa Haka is the term used for the Traditional Maori Performing Arts.Unlike other dance forms, kapa haka is unique in the fact that the performers must sing, dance, have expression as well as movement all combined into each item.
Kapa Haka could be seen as sign language, as each action has a meaning, which ties in with the words. For example, if the hand is by the ear, that would normally mean whakarongo which means listen.
If you haven't already guessed my speech is about Kapa Haka , and of course my name is Mihiterina and my speech is all about kapa haka and how it is performed .
The Waiata Tira are choral pieces used to warm up the vocal chords and introduce the group to the audience. Through a waiata tira the group announces its arrival in a sort that is often light and positive. Waiata tira are also used to acknowledge the supreme being, Io - (god) and in most cases if you take away the tune to a waiata tira it becomes a prayer. Maori people are very spiritual people.
The Moteatea come in many forms including lullabies,and songs about revenge, anger or love. Moteatea is the classical term used by Sir Apirana Ngata for traditional maori chant music. Because we had no written language we used wakairo (carvings) , Tukutuku (panels in a wharenui) and all forms of waiata Moteatea ( Traditional Maori chant music ) to retain and hold on to our history and whakapapa. In Tuhoe they call it Waiata Koroua, it can also be called waiata tawhito, we have a excess of 25 plus different categories of Moteatea.
The Poi is commonly done by women, involving the balls attached to pieces of string and are like the sizes of tennis balls, The poi in days of old were used by the men folk, the poi were made out of raupo (meaning swamp weed). the men used the poi for suppleness and flexibility in the wrists in order to strengthen their arms for the use of weapons such as the taiaha and patu. Today they are more commonly seen used by the women to portray beauty and grace.
Next is the Waiata a ringa. the waiata a ringa was introduced into our culture around the late 1800s to the early 1900s , The guitar was also introduced at the same time. Sir Apirana Ngata was responsible for introducing the action song into our culture.
And last but not least is of course The Haka – In the word HAKA Ha means breath and ka means to ignite, there are many categories of Haka depending on your iwi – (people) connections. There are 10 catergories for men and 3 for women Haka wahine) . One korero to do with Haka, is about the woman of Tinirau, this was said to be one of the first encounters of Haka.
Kapa haka is an important part of my life and the strong part of my whakapapa , to be successful you need to have a love and passion for our culture and enjoy sharing it , many members of my family have travelled the world sharing our culture with others , so what im trying to say is that kapa haka is an awesome medium for learning so much about who we are as maori , Kei te mihi nui ki a kautou mo tenei ra kit e rongo ki taku whakaro mo kapa haka , so thank you very much for listening to my thoughts on kapa haka . Kia Ora
