Amokura Kapa Haka is a rōpū created for rangatahi who have a passion to learn and perform kapa haka. Our kaupapa involves all rangatahi participants to be smoke, drug and alcohol-free and encourages members to continue with their education. This group is tutored by Meikura Arahanga, Huata Martindale and Roberta Arahanga.
In July 2013, Amokura Kapa Haka travelled to Rarotonga to participate in the annual Te Maeva Nui Celebrations. Amokura was one of two New Zealand Māori groups that travelled to perform and celebrate in this auspicious occasion. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances with the organising committee, the festival was shortened by a couple of days and moved outside of the group’s planned travel period. Due to the change, Amokura could not perform in the festival.
All was not lost, as Amokura performed for the Rarotonga people at the Te Punanganui Markets, the Trade Fair Te Maevanui Parade, Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruises, Highland Paradise and on invitation, a performance at the NZ High Commissioner’s residence. Amokura received amazing reviews in the local Rarotongan newspaper and were filmed for a promotional video on their last day in Rarotonga. We were blessed with so many amazing opportunities, from learning the Cook Island style of hula dance with Tupapa Maraerenga to an evening of whakapapa kōrero and songs with a number of ariki from three villages.
It was an amazing opportunity to travel there to visit one of our tipuna, Tāua Tini Ellison, mother of the late Riki Te Mairaki Ellison. Dr Ellison, tāua Tini’s husband, was the resident GP on the island at the time of her passing. Due to the long journey back to Aotearoa, her whakapapa and Dr Ellison’s professional ranking, the ariki allowed her to be interred in the urupā in his palace grounds, Taputapuatea. The kōrero that was given to us on the day of our visit was that tāua Tini was the first New Zealand Māori to be laid to rest in Rarotonga.
Within the travelling rōpū, there were fourteen with whakapapa ties to Taumutu Rūnanga. All fourteen members received financial assistance to contribute towards their total costs. Of the fourteen members, two of them (Tia Hunt and Aporonia Arahanga) have gone on and performed successfully for X-Factor and The Kapa television shows.
Not only do the members practise many forms of waiata, but all of the young men within Amokura are either students or kaiako (Uruora and Amo-kapua) at Te Tohu o Tū – Taiaha Wānanga, the longest running Taiaha Wānanga within Te Waipounamu. Te Tohu o Tū will be celebrating 25 years of operation this coming Easter/ANZAC week. These young people have not only highlighted Ngāi Tahu as an iwi, but also their whakapapa back to Ngāti Moki, Taumutu. We cannot express enough our gratitude to the rūnanga for supporting us in our kaupapa. We are also extremely grateful for the support from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
Heoi, he mihi nui rawa ki a Ngāti Moki, a, ki Te Rūnanga o Taumutu mō te whakaaro aroha i tukuna mai. Ā nā wai rā, ki te rūnanga matua o Ngāi Tahu mō tā koutou i whakaaro mai.
Nō reira, nāia te toro atu o te ringa mihi ki a koutou tahi – Meikura Arahanga.
Group photo with Tini Ellison headstone.
Amokura kapa haka.