Kapa haka, siva and more: learning from cultural dance with respect

In Aotearoa you can see some of the most powerful group dance in the world, often performed by school students. Kapa haka and Pacific dance aren't just entertainment. They carry history, language, whakapapa and values.

Kapa haka

'Kapa' means to stand in a row, and haka is a dance. Kapa haka is a group performing Māori dance and song together. Haka is not only a war dance: there are haka to welcome guests, honour ancestors, protest and celebrate. At Te Matatini, the national festival held every two years, each team performs a bracket with six parts: - Whakaeke: the entrance. - Waiata tawhito: a traditional song or chant. - Poi: song with poi swung on cords. - Waiata-ā-ringa: an action song where the hands help tell the story. - Haka: the powerful chant and dance. - Whakawātea: the exit.

Performers aim for ihi (a strong presence), wehi (a feeling of awe in the audience) and wana (the thrill that runs through everyone). The name Te Matatini means 'many faces', and around 40 teams make it to the finals.

Pacific dance

After the Second World War, Pacific families brought their dances to New Zealand: the Cook Islands' fast-hipped dance, the Tongan lakalaka, the Samoan siva and many more. In siva Sāmoa, graceful hand and arm movements tell a story, and performers may invite the audience to join in. That invitation is part of the culture: giving and receiving (reciprocity) between performers and audience.

Polyfest

In 1976 three Auckland secondary students set up a friendly cultural competition between their schools. It grew into Polyfest, one of the largest Māori and Pacific dance festivals in the world, with thousands of student performers each year.

Learning with respect