Tena ano tatou Nāti mā,
My baby sister Janaya is doing some sport study at the Bay of Plenty Polytech. One of her assignments was to show the holistic fitness approach of a kapa haka lifestyle.
Being a "retired" kapa haka exponent myself, she asked me for some help so I jotted down a few thoughts for her on how kapa haka has helped me in my life.
E Nāti mā... he iwi hakahaka a Ngati Porou, e mohiotia whanuitia ana tatou mo tenei ahuatanga.
A tena... he aha nga hua kua riro i a koutou i enei mahi?
Anei, e whai ake nei ko aku whakaaro... he aha a koutou
Kapa Haka as a Holistic Fitness ToolKo Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Ngati Porou te iwi.
Ko Charles Nikora toku papa
Ko Sally Nikora toku mama
Ko Te Hamua Shane Nikora toku ingoa
The following is a short summary of how kapa haka has helped me in my life and the holistic healing, development and fitness it has provided me.
I started kapa haka at the age of 4 years. I was the kaea (male leader) of our group at Hiruharama School, Ruatorea.
From Hiruharama School to Gisborne Intermediate, kapa haka became the way I was able to express my spirituality and culture, thus affording me a way to "get to know" who I really was, at such a young age.
By secondary school (Gisborne Boys' High) kapa haka had become such an ingrained part of my psyche that I knew it would be a natural transition for myself to move from merely doing the haka, to deepening my knowledge of te iwi Maori, and our old ways.
Post secondary school saw the resurrection of the Whangara-mai-Tawhiti kapa haka. This is where I was taught things such as karakia, whai korero, whakapapa, mau rakau (weaponary), mahi whaiwhaiā (black magic) and told of their bad and good sides... and taught to never use such knowledge unless you have it 100 percent sorted out, lest it come back to bite you in karmic retribution.
Since my temporary retirement from competitive kapa haka in 1997 due to work commitments, the base that my kapa haka knowledge has given me, has set me in good stead as a radio announcer, TV presenter, song writer, music producer and Reo Maori translator.
TE TAHA HINENGARO
I have a healthy self-esteem due to knowing who I am... I am Maori and kapa haka showed me that.
I know my reo therefore have a knowledge of identity far beyond that of Maori who have not had the same blessings as I have from kapa haka.
TE TAHA WAIRUA
Being Maori is more then having fat lips and a big nose... and being a good singer! Kapa haka has opened my eyes and spirit to the ways our tipuna dealt with the world of wairua.
I feel lucky to have had a kapa haka AND church based up-bringing.
TE TAHA TINANA
I was never EVER the most physically fit of men, but with the discipline needed to be able to haka for hours on end, fitness becomes a very important part of, most particularly, competitive kapa haka. If you are sucking in too many of the big ones, you aint giving it enough on stage!!!
TE TAHA WHANAU
All the groups I have been involved with were whanau groups, thus, I have a HUGE love and respect for my family. I am proud to be who I am, I love being Maori and I love being ME!!!
To finish off I will briefly summarise with this saying from the people of Rangiahua Marae in the Kahungunu area...
"He ao te rangi ka uhia, he huruhuru te manu ka tau."
Like the clouds cloak the sky, so do feathers make the bird.
Kapa haka has been the feathers that finished me as a young manu. Kapa haka laid the platform for the life I live now and has provided me with the tools to be successful and to live with a level of mana and knowledge I would have otherwise never have had.
"Ko Whāngārā te pūtahitanga o te tangata, ko Whāngārā te pārekereke o te korero... HI!!!"
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