Kapa haka facts for kids

A young Māori girl performing with poi

Kapa haka is the name for Māori performing arts. It means 'group' (kapa) and 'dance' (haka). Kapa haka helps Māori people share their culture and Polynesian identity through songs and dances.

Kapa haka started a long time ago, even before Europeans came to New Zealand. It grew from traditional Māori activities. These included haka, mau rākau (Māori weapon skills), poi (balls on strings), and mōteatea (old Māori songs). All these everyday activities helped Kapa haka become what it is today.

A Kapa haka show includes group singing, dance, and movements. These movements come from hand-to-hand combat moves used by Māori in the past. Everything is done together, with perfect timing, posture, and footwork. This art form mixes both European and Māori music styles.

What is a Kapa Haka Performance Like?

A Kapa haka performance is a series of songs and dances. These are put together to tell a story or show a theme. Different types of Māori music and dance are used.

Here are some common parts of a performance:

• Waiata tira: A warm-up song.
• Whakaeke: An entrance song.
• Waiata-ā-ringa: An action song.
• Haka: A challenge dance.
• Pou or mōteatea: Old-style singing.
• Poi: Coordinated swinging of balls on cords.
• Whakawātea: A closing song.

Sometimes, they also include tītī tōrea. This is the skillful handling of thin sticks. A full show can last up to 40 minutes. Some parts might be performed more than once.

Kapa haka music is mostly singing. Most songs, except for mōteatea and haka, use European-style harmony. They often have guitar music. Parts of haka are woven into the songs. Performers also use special Māori dance moves, facial expressions, and sounds. All the song words are in the Māori language. New songs are always being created.

The main musical instruments in Kapa haka are the guitar and the pūtatara (a conch shell). The sounds of poi and rākau (sticks) are also important. Performers also use body percussion, like stamping their feet.

Kapa haka groups have both men and women. They can have a few people or dozens. They wear traditional Māori clothing. Group members are often linked by family, iwi (tribe), school, or other connections. Most performers move together. But sometimes, men do one action while women do another.

A few performers have special jobs. The kaitataki (male and female leaders) often move among the performers. They encourage everyone. People who write songs, arrange music, create dances, and design costumes are also very important.

Every two years, Kapa haka groups from all over New Zealand compete. This competition is called Te Matatini. It is New Zealand's national Māori performing arts competition for adults. Another big competition happens every year at the ASB Bank Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival. This is known as Polyfest. The performances there are also very impressive.

Different Styles of Kapa Haka Music and Dance

A young Māori man with a taiaha

Not all Māori performance types are used in Kapa haka. Here are some that usually appear:

• Waiata tira: These are group songs used to warm up voices. They also introduce the group to the audience. A waiata tira helps the group announce its arrival in a light and positive way.

• Whakaeke: These are also group songs. They often talk about current social issues. They might also honor a person or an important part of Māoridom. Sometimes, they are simply used as an entrance song for the group.

• Haka: These are best described as challenges. They are used to make a point, honor someone, tell a story, or show an emotion. Both men and women perform them. The men are usually at the front, with women supporting them from behind. Haka involve rhythmic speaking and strong facial expressions (pūkana, meaning "glaring"). They also include powerful body movements and a challenging attitude. Men often stamp their feet, hit their bodies, and make fierce faces. This makes them look as strong as possible. Haka are often called traditional war dances. But they had many other uses in old Māori society. Today, they are used for many peaceful reasons too.

• Waiata-ā-ringa: This means "song of hands or arms." These are "action songs." They show the Polynesian way of adding hand and arm movements to songs. These movements help to explain the words. Both men and women perform them, with women in the front and men in the back. Some use tunes from English songs with new Māori words. Others are completely new songs about many different topics. They feature the wiri, which is a trembling of the hands. This shows the connection between the mind and body.

• Poi: These are women's dances. They involve swinging balls about the size of tennis balls, attached to cords. Poi started as a way for warriors to train and improve their agility. Today, poi shows the beauty and grace of the women. In the past, women used poi on long canoe trips. They helped keep time for the male paddlers, like a coxswain. This is why the sound of the poi hitting the hand is so important. Performers swing the balls together in different patterns and rhythms. They sing a song (a waiata poi) with guitar music. They show great skill and coordination. This is especially true with "long poi," which have cords up to a meter long. Each performer might use four poi at once. In the past, the balls were made of raupo (a plant) and the cords from flax. Today, they are often made from plastic shopping bag material and yarn. The sound of poi hitting the hands is a key part of the music.

• Tītī tōrea: Kapa haka groups sometimes use these. Tītī tōrea are pairs of carved thin sticks. They are about shoulder-width long. Performers move them skillfully with their wrists and arms. The sticks are often passed between performers. Like poi, tītī tōrea movements are done together and to music. The sounds of the sticks, especially when they hit the floor, add to the music. Also like poi, they came from old warrior training methods.

• Pou or mōteatea: These are unison songs. They are sung in a style similar to old Māori singing. They are very important in Māoridom. They tell stories that keep historical, family, and cultural information alive. They connect Māori people with their past. Mōteatea come in many forms. These include sad songs, lullabies, and songs about revenge, anger, and love.

• Whakawātea: These are group songs used to say goodbye to the audience. They might also make a final point before leaving the stage. They can pick up on ideas from the whakaeke or talk about the event itself. Performers are often at the side or back of the stage.

Images for kids

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  Tairawhiti Society performing action songs at Whakarewarewa Model Village, Rotorua Māori Concert January 1975.

See also

In Spanish: Kapa haka para niños