Pae Taiohi Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition 2019

In conjunction with the Palmerston North City Council and Te Puni Kōkiri, the Manawatū/Horowhenua Māori Teachers Cluster will be hosting the 2019 Pae Taiohi Regional Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition.

Since the year 1999 the Pae Taiohi has been held biennially within the Manawatü/Horowhenua region. This initiative emerged from the aspirations of many people, such as teachers, whänau and students, because there was a need for Kapa Haka Excellence in Secondary Schools to be exposed, acknowledged and celebrated.

Pae Taiohi was born in 1999 as the inaugural Secondary Schools Kapa Haka National Finals were held in Auckland in the year 2000.

Pae Taiohi provides a platform to promote, advance and practice:
- Whänaungatanga (relationships), kotahitanga (unity) and community
- The recognition of Mäori knowledge, culture and arts
- The creative skills within the whanau e.g. making piupiu, poi, taniko, pare raranga
- Upskilling whanau in Te Reo Maori
- The valued and continued participation and contribution of rangatahi (young people)
- To foster positive relationships between schools, tangata whenua (local tribe), community and cultures
- Become exposed and more familiar with Marae and tikanga/kawa (protocols) respectively
- Being in direct contact with Kuia, Kaumatua and experts/specialists in the Maori Performing Arts field who lead and teach us in the skills above during hui, noho marae, working bees, workshops and whanau gatherings. There have been and will be a number of opportunities for this to happen
- To empower and inspire rangatahi in Maori tradition, customs and values
- To provide positive role models
- To set clear and achievable goals with a commitment and dedication to the survival and revitalisation of Maori language and culture accomplished through the medium of Maori performing arts, (traditional and contemporary Maori songs and performance), oral language, traditional customs and values
- To nourish, nurture and encourage rangatahi within the customs and traditions of a rich cultural heritage
- To enhance self-worth, self-esteem, pride and a positive identity of being Maori in today’s society

Associated with each Schools Kapa Haka is a large number of talented Kapa Haka exponents and tutors passing on their expertise and wisdom to the next generation to learn, master, perform and cherish accordingly.

Young and old, seasoned and novice, current and past performers alike are ready and willing to contribute in preparing their respective schools Kapa Haka for the Pae Taiohi competition, whereby the possibility of three (3) groups that score the highest aggregate points could be chosen to compete at the National competitions (to be hosted by the Tāmakimakaurau - Auckland region) in 2020.

All previous campaigns have witnessed a fully packed out venue, with supporters from near and afar arriving to support their respective kapa haka group. Throughout the day, supporters are also swarming the surrounding food and retail outlets on Broadway Avenue, The Square and in the Plaza.

Not only is this a day for rangatahi and whānau to celebrate success, it is also a day where the wider community and all ethnicities of Palmerston North and the greater Manawatū can experience the positivity of the Māori culture at its very finest, and within a fully smoke-free, non-alcoholic environment.