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National | Kapa haka

Te Arawa Kapa Haka Regionals- Te Kapa o Ngāti Tarāwhai

Ngāti Tarāwhai is led by kaitātaki tāne, Ruakiri Fairhall and kaitātaki wahine, Parekaawa Liddell.

Their choral, called Te Rau Aroha acknowledges those from Te Arawa who have passed.

Following this is their whakaeke, Ngā Whao o Maninihau, an original composition written by Hōhua Mohi last year.

Their key aim as a group is to bring together descendants of Ngāti Tarāwhai, to ensure the knowledge of their ancestors are upheld and passed on to the next generation.

Established in 2009, Ngāti Tarāwhai has had regional, national and international experience. In 2010 they competed in the Te Arawa Regional Competition in Rotorua for the first time.

The following year, Ngāti Tarāwhai was given the opportunity to travel abroad, to Saipan where they performed at the Flame Tree Arts Festival.

In 2012, the chance to travel overseas arose again. The tira headed to Germany and performed at the Rauru 100th Celebration.

More recently in 2014, Ngāti Tarāwhai's talent was showcased to an international audience in China at the Beijing Arts Festival.

The rōpū has had an abundance of support since it's inception. They wish to acknowledge their kaumātua, supporters, tutors and the wider Ngāti Tarāwhai hapū.

A special mention has also been made to Sally Pirihi, who has worked tirelessly to create the rōpū's kākahu. The design is derived from the pou whakairo on Tarāwhai's ancestral house.