Wednesday, October 29 marked a special moment for the Upper Harbour Kāhui Ako (Whānau ki te Ako) community, as 350 students came together for the very first Te Āhuareka o Whānau ki te Ako Kapa Haka Festival – a vibrant celebration of kapa haka, connection, and cultural pride.
The festival began with a pōwhiri to welcome students and guests into the space, followed by a karakia, waiata, and introductions from key speakers alongside Kāhui Ako Lead Principal Cushla Shepherd, who reflected on the significance of the day – “today marked a significant milestone for our Kāhui Ako… bringing together seven Albany schools in a unique celebration of Te Ao Māori and whanaungatanga. Watching each rōpū, from tamariki as young as five to rangatahi aged seventeen, perform with mana, courage, and leadership was deeply moving. The unity and pride within each performance reflected not only the strength of our kura, but the collective spirit of our community”.
Throughout the day, fun interactive games kept energy levels high and the audience engaged, adding plenty of laughter and friendly competition to the celebrations. Each of the seven schools – ASHS, Albany Junior High School, Albany Primary School, Upper Harbour Primary School, Greenhithe School, Coatesville School, and Ridgeview School – took the stage with a 15-minute performance bracket, showcasing their unique strengths and shared passion for te ao Māori.
Event organiser Rashida Longley shared how rewarding it was to see the kaupapa come to life. “It was such a wonderful event to see how Te Ao Māori unites our ākonga, and to see genuine tuakana–teina relationships form through a shared passion. Kapa haka not only united the schools, but created connections for students from all cultures to stand as one. It was an absolute joy to lead the planning for this!”
Adding to the sentiment, Sally van Praag reflected on the spirit of connection that defined the day. “It was so lovely to see the tuakana–teina relationships between the students being formed before our very eyes! They were so excited to perform for each other – it made us wonder why we’ve never done this before! Now we have the blueprint figured out, we’ll definitely try to make this an annual event. See you next year!”
The ASHS kapa haka rōpū closed the day’s performances with a powerful bracket, before awards were presented to recognise participation across the festival.
The success of the inaugural Te Āhuareka o Whānau ki te Ako Kapa Haka Festival reflects the strength of the Kāhui Ako community and the value of coming together through shared celebration.
