Page 90 - NHS Beyond the Classroom

privileged to be asked to different levels of seating -
participate. However because it the stalls, the circle and the
required some 30 to 40 students upper circle.
we asked if Rakaumanga could Our students were
participate with us. This was to placed strategically around the
extend further our strong hall amongst the audience and
relationship between the two from there performed the
schools. It also gave ourselves powhiri in complete darkness,
and Rakaumanga an except for special red lighting
opportunity to participate in that focused on our students,
something completely different. silhouetting them.
The pageant took place in The affect was
Auckland over four days at the awesome. Moana Turner and
old Town Hall, and it was to Raunui (from Rakaumanga)
include four performances of were the first voices to be
three evening shows and one heard as they started the
matinee. powhiri with the ‘Karanga’.
We selected twenty of They stood on the upper circle
our students and complimented level above spot-lights casting
this with twenty Rakaumanga Igelese Ete only light upon them when
students. they begane their ‘Karanga’.
For those of us who have Igelese Ete was the The effect was spine-chilling!
not seen Ingalese in action as a choirmaster for Peter Jackson’s film From their karanga the
conductor, he is truly something “Lord of the Rings” and later as boys began their Haka Powhiri
to behold. The pageant included choirmaster and choral consultant which reverberated around the
people from all the Pacific for Disney’s animated film hall. The affect of the students
islands performing traditional “Moana”. being spread apart served to
and contemporary music and enhance the overall sound that
song. Dr Igelese Ete is currently came from the group as they all
To support each (2023) Composer/Conductor/ joined in.
performance a 300-strong choir Associate Professor at Massey We sat with our students
was made up of young people University: College of Creative Arts. during each of the
off the streets in Auckland. performances and each time we
From 700 auditions 300 were Here is one of his original could not help but be moved by
selected. Their singing was compositions: the whole experience.
absolutely stunning. Igelese’s To our students’ credit
ability to manage and train 300 People of the Sea we only had one afternoon of
cosmopolitan youth was astounding. practice. The rest of the other 400 performers had
The talent that manifested itself over four already been together for seven weeks. The
days was truly unbelievable. Each island, and whole event was an experience for our students.
ourselves, sang in their native language. The We were well looked after and cared for by
whole atmosphere during the performances was Igelese and the organizing committee from the
electric. Each show was a sell-out. University of Auckland. I know that I will never
For us (the powhiri part), although only 15 forget this experience and am happy we had the
minutes long, was a significant aspect of the chance to participate.
pageant. As the host people of this country we Ki a koutou te Roopu Kapa Haka, nga mihi
opened up the pathway for the Pacific to become mui mo nga mahi katoa o te tau nei.
part of this multi-cultural nation. Instead of the Ki a koe te Rangatira, Igalese, tena hoki koe
traditional “up the front” type powhiri, our mo o whakairo Rangatira ki a matou te roopu
students were placed around the hall, at the three Kapa Haka 0 Ngaruawahia.