Whaea Jane du Feu is not often lost for words. But asked to sum up the impact of the growth of kapa haka in Te Tauihu over the past 55 years, she pauses.
“It’s hard to describe because the impact has been so big, the growth phenomenal. It is impossible to measure. It affects everybody in such a positive, positive way.”
Whaea Jane (Taranaki Tuturu, Ngāti Tama and Te Ātiawa) has been on the kapa haka scene in Te Tauihu, the top of the South Island, since 1973.
She is one of hundreds who gathered in Whakatū recently to honour 55 years of kapa haka excellence in Te Tauihu and the establishment, in 1970, of the region’s governing body for kapa haka, now known as Te Tauihu Kapa Haka Inc.
“When I came to Whakatū in ‘73, I’d not long got involved with the Māori Women’s Welfare League in Christchurch, so I connected with the branch here. Some of them were in the Ngāwhatū group, so I tagged along.
“At that time, there was a renaissance, if you like. Over in Wairau, you had the Waikawa Māori Cultural Party, who were based at the marae; Motueka, which was a real hub for Māori, many of whom were seasonal workers, had a group; there was one in Wairau.
“The cultural council was established with a delegate from each of those groups to run competitions and foster kapa haka and if we go back to the original founding document, it is no different to what we’ve got today.
“It was about fostering kapa haka, fostering the development of te reo me ona tikanga, fostering whanaungatanga across the rohe, all of those things, and of course, to have a platform for our kids.”
