On Monday, 23 September the Westland Kapa Haka Group traveled to
Greymouth for annual Te Hui Ahurei o Te Tai o Poutini Kapa Haka Festival.
We, the mana whenua ascended the stage to begin the festival with a pōwhiri,
welcoming guests and participants to the event that day. Following the pōwhiri,
the MC was introduced and went through the safety briefing.
He then announced the first group to perform on the day, Greymain 1.
After them Greymain 2, who was the competing group performed.
Following the first four groups that morning Hokitika Primary School performed.
Following their performance, I left the theatre for food. I bought two waffles, one
for myself and the other one for Jett. I also bought a snow cone and a sausage.
I returned to the theater and sat there to watch a few more groups. Early that
afternoon we instructed to go to the changing room. There the boys were
handed piupiu and the girls were given their skirts and tops to change into.
Once changed we did a couple of run-throughs of our performance. At about
2:25 pm we were led downstairs and into the theatre eventually lining up
backstage. There we waited until Buller High School had completed their
performance. Finally, our turn had arrived

We were lead onto the stage. Our performance began with the Te Atua,
our waiata tira followed by the whakaeke, Tenei Te Tira then the waiata-a-ringa
E Kore Nei e Pikoko followed by the poi Tūhonono nei the haka
Te Māwherataka and our final item the whakawātea E nga iwi. We
exited the stage and sat down to watch Greymouth High School. Once they
finished, we returned to the changing rooms and changed back into our school
uniform. We then returned to the theatre to watch the prize-giving. Westland
High School won overall. We then left the theatre and went to McDonald’s
before returning home to Hokitika.  

Nā Zion Cook