Thursday, October 26, 2017
WITH Omarumutu School recently transitioning to a full Maori immersion kura, winning the pipi section at this year’s Delamere Cup meant a lot.
Ross McCullough
BEING able to build on their third placing last year to take out the pipi section and Ngati Ira Trophy at this year’s Delamere Cup is something special for Omarumutu School and its hapu.
Teacher Jonnina Temple said some of the children had not experienced kapa haka in that kind of depth before.
But while the challenge was new to some of them, the children had prepared well and were eager to learn.
Mrs Temple said they had gone into Delemare Cup with no real expectations, and to come away with the win was exciting for the school and its hapu, especially given the recent transition from a mainstream school to total immersion.
It had made the accomplishment that much more special for everyone in the surrounding Omarumutu area encompassing Ngati Rua, Ngati Patumoana, and Ngai Tama, she said.
“It was exciting and a very proud moment for our hapu.”
Mrs Temple said kapa haka had always been a part of Omarumutu School’s culture and the make-up of the performance was based on the school kaupapa of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) which saw all teachers instill in the children, their culture.
Kaumatua Te Riaki Amoamo spoke to the children about needing to be immersed in such knowledge and the whakawatea (final choral item) was composed from his vision with regard to the Ringatu church. She said composing the items to perform tested the children’s patience.
“They’d learn one item within two or three days and were ready to move onto learning another. They certainly kept us on our toes,” she said.
Parts of the performance were dedicated to some key school and iwi identities who had died. The waiata tira (choral) item was dedicated to its kuia Josie Karanga, (nee Mareroa), who grew up at Omarumutu and was heavily involved with the local marae and school community.
Others paid homage to included Te Arani, Wharepapa, Apanui Mason, Nui Mitai, Will Maxwell, Eileen Mato and Adrian Welsh.
OMARAMUTU School’s winning pipi performance at Delamere Cup paid homage to some key school and iwi identities who had died. Hanaia-Bree Hill holds a photo of Te Arani Wharepapa, Makoha Porter, a photo of kuia Josie Karanga, and Alexis Huntley has a photo of Apanui Mason.Photos supplied