Free Writing: Kapa Haka Nationals

Te Mana Kuratahi:

Last week, it was the big week. The big week that we have been having hard training's for. 6 months of training all came down to 1 week. Wednesday was the day it all came down to. 4:30am in the morning, early, early, early wake up. "Bang, bang, bang" first thing every morning you wake up. After karakia we had to wake and get ready for the big day. Girls were put in the mattress room, boys in the wharekai. "BOYS STAY IN THE WHAREKAI, GIRLS STAY IN THE MATTRESS ROOM!" that was the massive rule. "NO LEAVING YOUR CHAIRS EITHER" 2nd big rule. Getting ready was a hectic time especially for the girls. Get your hair done, get it curled (if needed), tamoko, put dress on. These isn't the order we done them but that was what we had to do. Skip to 8:40 everybody is freaking out. We done a silent run through before we left. 8:50 we left Te Ohaki Marae and went to Claudelands. 45 minutes later...

"We're here!" my nerves are running through my blood taking over, once I got to room 2 (changing room) I couldn't last long and I started balling my eyes out. My tears wouldn't stop crying until I hit the side of the stage. Walking on the stage, seeing all my family, made me less sad and made me more stronger ad confident in my self. 25 minutes...

Wooo it's all done 6 moths came down to 1 week, Wednesday, then to 25 minutes. It was a crazy ride with them. The haka tautoko really got to me and I didn't stop crying for about 20 minutes. 

To end of I will just like to give encouragement, if you love something, push your self so that you can give it all you have. Also never join things for the trip or for friends, you do it for you. 

Te Rau Pou Manawa, I love you  guys to bits and it was the best. Te Rau Pou Manawa Ki Te Hoe!

Te Tai Tokerau Intermediate & Primary Kapa Haka Regional.

For my 20min writing this week will be about Te Tai Tokerau Intermediate & Primary Kapa Haka Regional. So as we all wake up everyone starts talking about how nervous they are. We all get ready, have breakfast and go across to the hall. We have Taumata and after that Horraces says that he will try and record as much. 15mins after we start getting dressed and everyone is a bit psycho cause everyone is nervous and all. Once everyone is ready we wait for the bus to get here. Once it got here some people had to get some stuff on to the bus.  When we all got on the bus we had to focus so that we could calm down before we get there. When we turn into the stadium we saw all of our supporters and family. When we all got of the bus we waited for TKW (Te Kapehu Whetu) to come out of the changing rooms. When TKW came out we all went in and just started to get the rest of our stuff off. Like our Tamoko and just little touch ups. 2mins before we go on stage we are all waiting for us to go to to waiting just before the stage. When we get called to go by the stage we all just start to breathe heavily. Once I hit the stage all my nervousness just went away. When coming of the stage a few people start crying. (happy tears) Few Hours later... Now we are waiting for everyone to come to the prize giving and all the stuff we places were whakeke, Moteatea, Whakawatea and Waiata A ringa. Leilani (our Kaitataki Wahine) also came 1st equal with TKW, and we did a mean haka for her. When it came to time to hear who goes to nationals everyone had their fingers and toes crossed. When the man said that we came 4th then we all just jumped and celebrated. When we left we were all in the bus singing. We stop at the park to have some pizza and have a little play. When we got back Horrace said that we can have a 15min swim in our school pool. When we went to bed we were all relieved and happy. That was my first regional competition ever, and I am proud to have done with Te Rau Pou Manawa O Kawakawa.

https://tehiku.nz/te-hiku-tv/maranga-mai-e-te-iwi-2018/8674/te-raupo-manawa-o-kawakawa

Sorry we haven't been shared photos.