The top secondary school kapa haka has returned home to the Bay of Plenty with their first place taonga to celebrate with their community.
Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Puku o Te Ika (Te Puku) were named champions at Te Huinga Whetū Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua o Aotearoa competition held in Nelson last week, an achievement made much harder after their participation came under threat.
The group nearly didn’t make the event after flights were delayed or cancelled due to fog which left them stranded in Auckland. They missed the first day of competition but were able to make their scheduled performance day on the third to book their place in the finals.
Forces of nature and transportation issues overcome, they still faced an immense task ahead with over 40 groups and 2000 performers taking to the stage over the week-long event.
Hosted by Te Tauihu o Te Waka, groups performed in three days of pool competition before the top nine were selected to perform again in the finals where Te Puku were named champions.
Today, they were welcomed back to Ruamata Marae in Rotorua by proud whānau, including former students who once performed in the group in previous regional and national competitions.
The group is made up of four kura kaupapa Māori: Rotorua-based Te Kura Kaupapa o Ruamata and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori ki Hurunga-Te-Rangi, Taupo-based Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whakarewa i Te Reo ki Tūwharetoa, and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kura Kōkiri from Tauranga.