Hemi Harper and Sonia Stephens-Tahuri commence the Ashburton College kapa haka performance with a putaatara (konch shell). Photo suppliedMonths of hard work and preparation culminated last Friday at Ka Toi Maori O Aoraki FLAVA festival in Timaru, where five Ashburton schools showcased their kapa haka skills.

Kapa haka teams from Netherby, Borough, Hampstead, Ashburton Intermediate schools and Ashburton College journeyed south to take the stage at the Theatre Royal, and compete at the annual festival of Maori arts.

This year’s FLAVA festival attracted 20 schools from Mid and South Canterbury who performed in three categories – kapa haka, performing arts and visual arts.

Ashburton’s entries were all in the kapa haka category, in senior and junior divisions.

Claire Robertshaw, head of arts and languages at Ashburton College said it was a “big, long day” for performers, but the kapa haka group had done their college and tutor proud.

“The college group performed really well.”

She said the team picked up second prize in the competitive senior kapa haka section, along with a “very exciting” scholarship prize from ARA.

Serenity Timothy of Year 13 also walked away with second-place prize for the female leader category.

Hampstead principal Peter Melrose said students from the Hampstead School Kapa Haka Ropu came home from the event “tired and with lots of stories to tell their families and friends”.

He said the performers also relished the opportunity to watch older students from Ashburton College and Ashburton Intermediate perform because it “gives them an aspiration to work towards”.

“We see our students in Intermediate and College groups and cheer even louder for them – it is great to see that growth and continuity of skill.”

The FLAVA festival has been running for 11 years and is open to all childhood, primary and secondary schools and tertiary education facilities between the Waitaki and Rakaia rivers.

It is organised by Arowhenua Whanau Services and continues to grow in popularity and size each year.

By Katie Todd © The Ashburton Guardian - 22 August 2017