Maori at Tauranga Boys' College

Te Tauranga O Nga Waka is the name of the kapa haka group made up of students from Tauranga Boys’ and Girls’ Colleges. They perform each year and compete bi-annually in the regional event to try and qualify for the National competition. The last time they competed at Nationals was in 2004.

This year has seen a new tutor for Te Tauranga O Nga Waka. Edward Te Moana has taught and tutored many of the students at Tauranga Intermediate. There he led Te Whanau O Te Maro to a 4th place national finish in 2015.

Matua Ed has led a very strict campaign this year with high expectations of all performers. A ruthless selection policy and endless marae noho all helped to prepare the group for the Te Haka A Toi regional Mataatua and Takitimu event held here in Tauranga. Having a team made up of students from two schools is a challenge in itself so the regular, intense training was needed in order to compete with the other co-ed schools. Year 13 student Tonotu Thompson was selected to be the male leader of the group on stage. He and other Year 13 students also provided leadership off the stage as well.

The event itself was hotly contested. Teams from throughout the region came from as far as Tuhoe and Te Whanau a Apanui. The standard was high and many performers and tutors were used to performing at a national level at Te Matatini festivals. Each group performed a set bracket of items and points were accumulated based on performance in a number of areas. Scores are collated and the winning groups announced. The top three teams qualify to represent the region at the national competition the following year.

Te Tauranga O Nga Waka performed well, picking up 1st place for costume, choral item and original composition with a waiata written about former TBC teacher and Tauranga Moana leader Awanuiarangi Black, who sadly passed away in 2016. The group finished in 3rd place overall to qualify for Nationals for the first time in 13 years!

The hard work has paid off and now the group can look forward to even more hard work as they prepare for Nationals in June. They held a fundraising evening in the Youth Theatre where they presented the picture below of the group at Huria marae on canvas to each of the two College Principals.

Pictured above Gordie Lloyd (Nga Puhi) and Shi Jie Yong (Ngati Ranginui)

The Winter sports season has ended with Maori students involved in local, regional and national competitions in a wide range of sports including classic Winter codes Rugby, Soccer, Hockey and Basketball. There have been a number of great successes but a national title has proved elusive in these major codes this season. Many of our students have been playing representative level in each of these codes. Two of these boys are pictured here, both selected for the Chiefs Under 18 camp from our 1st XV.

Every year we have Auckland University visit the College to promote their program ‘Whakapiki Ake’. This program aims to promote more Maori students into a career in medicine. We have three of our Maori old boys now all studying medicine in Auckland. Current students Jimi Kameta (Te Arawa) and Jaamin Fuller (Rongowhakaata) are both involved in the programmes they offer for Year 12 and Year 13 students.

This past term they presented to a number of our junior students in the wharenui. This was also in conjunction with the BOPDHB ‘Kia ora Hauora’ programme which also has the aim of promoting careers in health and medicine for Maori.

Some students were later involved in their ‘Te Whe’ programme which was hosted at the Tauranga Hospital and also at The House of Science. Students met with professionals from a range of fields and also engaged in a number of exercises that replicate what aspects of medicine might involve.

This year’s annual Tauranga Boys’ & Girls’ College combined production was ‘Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure’ (or for us Maori within the cast, “Pita Pan”). It was very successful with all six shows selling out. This was very exciting as we finally had the opportunity to showcase all our hard mahi for the audience to see. Performing every night takes a huge toll on both the brain and body with the lack of sleep clearly visible on our fellow cast mates faces. But to feel the wairua that the audience gives off is an amazing feeling.

Among the cast were seven Maori boys whom each had a specific role within the show. George Hiku was cast as Peter Pan while Hunter Eagle portrayed the role of Smee. The remaining Maori students portrayed roles such as the Pirates, Lost Boys, Londoners, and Braves. When asked individually what they enjoyed most about this journey, we all agreed that meeting new faces and working with like minded people was a great time. When you spend the majority of your time with the cast, you really bond just like a whanau.

And when everyone is on the same page, it transitions to the stage and really boosts morale. This production could not be possible if it were not for the tremendous support from Matua John, Whaea Brenda, Whaea Zoe, Whaea Rhian and Whaea Michelle, for dedicating their time and effort towards running this large project for the students of both schools. In typical TBC fashion I’d like to end off with a quote from William Wairua. For those who are auditioning for next years TGC Production, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, “Give it your beast yea.” Na George Wheatley
Pictured above:

Back row: Ezra Harvey (Tainui), George Wheatley (Ngai Te Rangi), Ethan Hahunga (Ngati Rangiwewehi), Te Huatahi Johnson (Ngai Te Rangi). Front row: Hunter Eagle (Tuwharetoa), George Hiku (Nga Puhi), Te Awhina Downs (Ngai Te Rangi)

Pictured above:

Taiohi Taumata Rau students: Haze Peters (Ngati Raukawa), Israel Waaka (Ngai Te Rangi), Peter Apaapa (Ngati Ranginui) Shaylim Palmer (Ngati Ranginui), Tahia Tuhimata (Tainui), Tama Kirikiri (Te Whanau A Apanui), Tioriori Waikato (Tainui), Thomas Te Kani (Nga Puhi), Tyrese Nohokau (Ngati Porou).

Taiohi Taumata Rau is a mentoring programme provided to the kura through Ngata Ranging education services. Arataki breakdancer, musician and entertainer Gilly Horne meets with a group of Year 12 students each week to help with goal setting, career advice and academic support. As well as school based sessions the group have also spent time learning to sail a waka hourua, visiting marae and meeting with students from other schools as well.