Kapa Haka Trip - Rarotonga

Written by Hannah Blair

On the 28th July our Kapa Haka group Ngā Piki Kōtuku ā Ranginui, travelled to Avarua, Rarotonga to participate in the 52nd Te Maeva Nui festival. Te Maeva Nui showcases performances from Rarotonga and all it’s outer islands, so it was a very large audience that most of us weren’t used to. We were also treated as celebrities while we were there. 

We got to experience the awesome Cook Islands culture, and had a lot of fun. Our main transport around the island was fitting all 16 students in the deck of a ute. We had semi-assigned seating after a while, and got used to this kind of transport.  The weather was fine, until it rained on the night of our performance. We ended up having to sit on heaps of towels and holding a tarpaulin over our heads for the 20 minute drive from our resort. 

I think my favourite part about the trip was our group, and how we all got so much closer, and spoke to others we didn’t talk to very much previously.
Overall it was an amazing experience, and I know I’m not the only one who will definitely be going back to Rarotonga.

Here's the link for our performance (below). Such an awesome performance for a small roopu.

Year 9 Extension - The Athlete Factory

Our first Year 9 Extension visit to The Athlete Factory. Great time had by all!!

Makayla Wadsworth - Tauranga Speech and Drama Competition winner

In the July school holidays, Makayla (Year 11) competed in the Tauranga Speech and Drama Competitions young performer of the year, and ended up coming first place, being the youngest competing.
She is now representing Tauranga for Speech and Drama at Nationals this year in October which is held in Palmerston North, to compete for best in the country.
Congratulatons Makayla!!  Good luck for the Nationals!!