What an honour it was for our Junior Kapa Haka students to share the gift of haka and waiata with our kaumātua and residents at Metlifecare Highlands as we celebrated Matariki together. This special visit reflected this year’s national theme, Matariki Herenga Waka – For Everyone, reminding us that Matariki is a time to connect, share, and celebrate across generations.

Our second annual House Haka Whakataetae was a fantastic way to conclude Term Two and celebrate Matariki, embracing this year’s national theme, Matariki Herenga Waka – For Everyone. The competition showcased the courage, commitment, and mana of students from every house as they stepped onto the stage to perform with passion and pride. The standard of this year’s performances lifted to an impressive new level. It was also inspiring to see so many staff taking to the stage alongside ākonga.

In doing so, our staff and students also followed in the footsteps of Bishop Pompallier, whose immense respect for the people of this land led him to embrace te reo and tikanga Māori and walk alongside tangata whenua with humility and respect. By stepping onto the stage and wholeheartedly participating in haka, we all continue that legacy of recognising the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua and celebrating the richness of te ao Māori.

Congratulations to Kororāreka on being crowned our 2026 House Haka Champions, with Hokianga placing second, Waitematā third, and Akaroa fourth.

While each house competed with determination, the event reflected the true spirit of Matariki Herenga Waka, bringing our community together through haka, whanaungatanga, and shared participation – regardless of where our tīpuna are from.

Ngā mihi whakawhetai to our kaiwhiriwhiri for their careful and insightful judging, and to all our staff, students, and student leaders who poured so much aroha into this kaupapa and helped bring the wairua of Matariki to life.

Once every two years, the Sancta Maria College community comes together for a truly special evening, and this year’s Matariki Dinner Fundraiser beautifully reflected the spirit of Matariki Herenga Waka – For Everyone. More than a fundraiser, the evening was a celebration of our students, our community, and the many ways we honour te ao Māori through service, participation, and whanaungatanga.

The success of the evening was built on months of preparation. Our kapa haka students dedicated countless hours to rehearsals, including additional practices and a vocal coaching workshop to further develop their performance skills. Our junior rōpū also enjoyed the opportunity to rehearse at Stewart Dance Studios, allowing them to refine their stage presence and performance in a professional dance environment before the big night.

The Dinner Fundraiser itself showcased the incredible talents that exist across our kura. Guests were entertained by outstanding kapa haka performances, enjoyed music from our talented school bands Blue Brioche Buns Jazz Combo & Sheng Mali Chamber Trio and admired beautiful student artwork on display in the Silent Auctions. One of the highlights of the evening was seeing our ākonga proudly perform in their beautiful new kākahu, made possible through the generosity of our school community and supporters. Their confidence, pride, and sense of belonging shone through every performance.

Behind the scenes, the evening was made possible by an extraordinary collective effort. Staff, students, whānau, volunteers, and supporters worked tirelessly to prepare and serve the meal, organise raffles and the silent auction, transform the venue and warmly welcome our guests. Every contribution reflected the manaakitanga and service that defines our kura and made the evening a truly memorable experience for everyone who attended.

Tēnā rawa atu koutou to all our volunteers, performers, whānau, donors, and especially our generous sponsors for your incredible support. Your kindness and generosity made this unforgettable kaupapa possible and will continue to benefit Te Kapa Haka o Hato Maria for years to come.