Welcome

Hi everyone and welcome to the Ilam School Kapa haka blog. Nicola Fewings and I have started a blog this year to keep you informed of what's happening in Kapa haka and also as a means of celebrating the achievements of the children. We are both looking forward to a fantastic year, building on the successes and hard work of 2012. With that we would like to thank Matua Maaka Tau and Elizabeth Minchington for all of their efforts during the last 12 months, culminating in an outstanding performance at the Christchurch Cultural Festival. Matua Maaka is back with us this year and looking forward to working with the children once again.

We have a  lot of new children trying out kapa haka at the moment which is great, as one of our key aims is to encourage children to participate  in a culturally rich environment, and have lots of fun along the way. Practices are every Wednesday from 12 till 1 pm (includes first half hour of lunch). In early March, after the children have attended the first three practices and decided whether they like performing kapa haka, we will send a letter home to parents and caregivers letting you know which children have committed to working with the group till the end of the year.

Both Nicola and I see 2013 as a year of consolidation, confirming what the children learnt last year, developing leadership skills among the children, and building towards the cultural festival of 2014. This year we will also look at continuing to perform at school assemblies and events as well as possibly performing at other schools. In fact, the Canterbury University preschool has already asked if they could come and watch us practise with the possibility of the Kapa haka  group visiting the preschool later in the year.

Finally, Nicola and I would just like to reiterate that we are both looking forward to a fantastic year of kapa haka where the children learn and have fun along the way!

Ka kite anō

Nicola Fewings and Mick Withers