NGAA MAHI A HINE-TE-REHIA - POI Traditionally the poi was used by the male warriors as a training exercise, it helps with dexterity in the wrist and overall hand eye co-ordination. It has later been adopted by the women as a perfor-mance item in a bracket where they show poise and gracefulness. Leilani Thompson-Kihi is one of the most well known Poi performers in New Zealand. Her skill set has helped many teams win top awards at Kapa Haka nationals and regionals. With her knowledge of Maori history she has become one of New Zealand's top tutors in High School Competitions. She is also one of the countries best performers at senior level Competition.

AWHINA I TE KAUPAPA

Awhina-i-te-Kaupapa is a group made up of students and ex-students of Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga a Maori emersion school based in Huntly. The group was first established in 1994 under the Tutors Rawiri Thompson of Raukawa and Kirimaaku Kihi of Waikato.

The group has performed and open festivals all over the country and overseas.

Showcasing Maaori performing arts, the revitalization of the Maaori language and the sustainability of Maaori values and traditions are the founding principles for this group.

Maaku anoo e hanga i tooku nei whare.

Through colonization and land confiscation our traditions and language nearly ceased to exist. The saying above is a proverb by the

late Maaori King Taawhiao Matuataera Pootatau Te Wherowhero the second.

We aspire to embody this vision in everyday life from starting our own Kura Kaupapa

Maaori, Wharekura and Whare Waananga where we preserve our traditional way of life and grow well grounded students who are

experts in all facets of Maaori language and traditions.

We will fashion our own house to serve our purpose.

Throughout the years Aawhina I te kaupapa has been in-volved in multiple regional, national and global indigenous

conferences from performance showcases to public speaking forums and everything in between.

They often go to perform brackets made up of an entry item explaining the distance travelled by the group, a tra-ditional waiata ori or lullaby that pay homage to ancestors, an action song and poi and the infamous haka with a clos-ing item that shows appreciation for the hosting country.

Below are some of the many events that they have attend-ed in the past:

Merrie monarch 1998, 2000, 2007, 2010 Cheng Du Panda festival 1998 Pangopango South Pacific Arts Festival 2008 Korea Trades Festival 2009 Taiwan Festival 2014 Rugby world cup 2011 Kiwis four nations 2008 Chiefs Rugby Franchise 2012, 2013 Rugby League World Cup 2017

WORLD REKNOWN EVENTS with Maori Performing Arts

Performer Profiles

MAA NGAA MAHI KAPA HAKA KOE E PUTA KI TE AO. Kapa Haka and Maaor i Performing Arts can take you around the wor ld .

Chiefs Rugby Super 15 Awhina-I-te-Kaupapa allows both current and ex-students of Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga opportunities to assist multiple Rugby and Rugby League teams in their traditional challenge otherwise known as wero or haka.

Ora Kihi

Maapihi Pounamu Rapana

Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony 2011 Under the guidance of Ora Kihi a collective of tribal mem-bers from all ages and all tribes throughout New Zealand were involved in the opening ceremony for the Rugby World Cup .

Ora Kihi has been a teacher at Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga for over 10 years where he has coached their secondary kapa haka team to go on to win over ten regional competitions and 3 na-tional titles. He has assisted his own team Whangara-mai-tawhiti to win 2 national Matatini titles and over 15 regional competitions. Currently he is the cultural advisor for the Kiwi’s Rugby League and Chiefs Rugby teams.

Maapihi is a seasoned performer who has won regional high school titles, A performer for Tauira Mai Tawhiti a Top Senior team and overall excellence on the Matatini stage. She is a student at Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga where she leads the Maori cultural group. She is also a student who excels in performing arts, plays lead roles in the Production Return to the River and Tao.