'He apopo ahau katoa' — ‘We are tomorrow’

Kia ora koutou                                                                                               

Kia ora

There has been a great response to the Koanga Festival this year.  Thank you so much for your patience and flexibility in bringing this together.  We have just on 30 schools performing this year which is tremendous.

With the large numbers participating, it has been a mammoth task to piece together schools requests, the sharing of tutor teachers and roopu size.

Located on this blog is the Timetable for participation at the Koanga Festival and a map of Edgewater College.

We are requesting that schools allow 1 hour before the performance.  Entry to the festival is by Koha. 

On arrival, Mr Edwards and his team of helpers will direct you to a car park in the school grounds.                

Roopu Groups,  Coordinators and Tutor teachers will identify themselves and be directed to a meeting point.

For those interested in visiting Edgewater College prior to the event.  We have arranged a  meeting on the 24^th August between 2-4pm.  There, we will show you the stage, dressing rooms and provide you with the final confirmation of performance time.

Please note any further changes to the timetable will only be made if absolutely necessary as school need to book buses and contact families.

This event is about parents/grandparents/ whanau coming together to watch our tamariki perform in song and dance.

our community  performing  together in song and dance.

I look forward to seeing many of you on the 24^th August at Edgewater College and I am looking forward to a wonderful event on the 8^th September.

Once again thanks for all your support.

Na

Karen Eaton

Pakuranga Intermediate staff and students, would like to acknowledge the support we have received from Edgewater College, who are kindly allowing us to use their facilities to host this years festival.

Each year a guest Roopu from outside our region is invited to join in the festival.  This year we welcome Mayfield Primary School.

The theme for this year's Koanga Festival is: He apopo ahau katoa — ‘We are tomorrow’.

Timeline of events:

Saturday 19th May:

Coordinators Breakfast Meeting

Tuesday 7th August :

Finalise Stall, Budgets and Team

Tuesday 4th September:

Final Komiti Hui

Saturday 5th September (tentative date  - to be confirmed)

Coordinators tour of Edgewater College

Finalise event

Friday 7th Sept:

Classroom prepared

Saturday 8th September:

Koanga Festival Day - Edgewater College

8.30am—8.15pm

 

H&P Times page 20 September 30th. Click on article to enlare.

See Howick Pakuranga Times Sept 30, Page 20. Click on articles to enlarge.

See NZ Chinese Herald article about Koanga Spring Festival 2010. Click on article to enlarge.

NZ Chinese Herald article and photos of Koanga Spring Festival

Howick College Student Leaders at Koanga Spring Festival 2010

Thanks to Howick Senior Leaders who gave up their time over 2 evenings to support the running of the Koanga Spring Festival. Email your photos to KoangaSpringFestival@gmail.com.

Mellons Bay Primary Kapa Haka Howick Auckland

Email your photos to KoangaSpringFestival@gmail.com

Pakuranga Student leaders at Koanga Festival 2010

Thanks to the Pakuranga Senior students who gave their time to support the running of the 2010 Koanga Spring Festival.

Email your photos to KoangaSpringFestival@gmail.com

Thanks to the Macleans College Seniors for support in the running of the 2010 Koanga Spring Festival.

Macleans College Kapa Haka performance at the 2010 Koanga Spring Festival.

Email photos to KoangaSpringFestival@gmail.com

Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School

Our Lady Star of The Sea - star performances!
Email more photos to KoangaSpringFestival@gmail.com

Macleans College Kapa Haka uniform looks awesome

New Kapa Haka uniforms for Macleans students

Edgewater College

Te Tahawai Edgewater Kapa Haka.

Edgewater College preparing for Koanga Festival 2010

Bucklands Beach Primary

New entrant to Koanga Festival Bucklands Beach Primary
Email your photos to KoangaSpringFestival@gmail.com

Sancta Maria on Maori TV

Sancta Maria on Maori TV

Sancta Maria so proud of Primary School Kapa Haka and Senior Leaders
Email your photos to KoangaSpringFestival@gmail.com

Cockle Bay students at Koanga Spring Festival 2010

Cockle Bay Kapa Haka at Koanga Spring Festival 2010
Email your photos to KoangaSpringFestival@gmail.com

Congratulations Students at the 2010 Koanga Spring Festival

You were awesome!
We could tell you worked hard to learn your waiata and your moves.

Come back again in 2011. We want to see more!

Thank your teachers and Kapa Haka tutors, leaders for their work teaching you waiata and how to perform. They help you look good.

Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui
Tu Edwards
Co-ordinator
2010 Koanga Spring Festival

Chinese Blog Post about Koanga Spring Festival 2010

Song's Chinese Blog about Koanga Spring Festival see photos

More photos of students. Gorgeous photos. Macleans students, MC, and other students

Koanga Spring Festival Kapa Haka Leaders in Howick Ward

Congratulations to the Kapa Haka Leaders in the 2010 Koanga Spring Festival. Your efforts to teach and train your students this year was remarkable. Your students shone on the Picton Centre stage. We'd like to acknowledge your Principal and staff, your students and parents who supported you to do so well this year. See you next year!

Thanks to the Rangatahi and Tamariki of Howick Ward Primary and Secondary Schools

Thanks to the students and children who participated in the 2010 Koanga Spring Festival. You were truly tu meke, too much! The Picton Centre rocked with your Kapa Haka performances. Parents cheered for you, your school and the other schools who were so cool. You made the 2010 Koanga Festival awesome.

Malcolm Smith Friend of Te Roopu Awhina

We announce the sad news of the passing of Malcolm Smith, a great friend of Te Roopu Awhina o Wairoa. Malcolm passed away this week after illness.

Malcolm's vision for community education, cultural exchange, artistic expression and respect and understanding pervaded what he did and how he went about his work.
He has been an avid supporter of the work Te Ropu Awhina does for school children and students throughout Howick.

Malcolm was a former Chairman of Uxbridge and has been admired and recognised for his many talents and diplomatic leadership.  He was a former Town Planning Consultant, and was the architect for the new whare to replace the fire damaged "Torere" in the Emilia Maud Nixon Garden of Memories on Uxbridge Road.

Torere is the Howick Ward centre for maori cultural programmes and the base of Te Roopu Awhina o Wairoa Trust.

We will miss his friendship, dedication, quiet determination and support
Our aroha extends to his wife Christina and his 4 children at this time.

Malcolm's funeral will be at All Saints Church, Monday, Sept 13, 2010 at 11am.

The following day is the beginning of the 2010 Koanga Spring Festival. We will include a tribute to Malcolm Smith and his work to support the development of Maori cultural programmes for primary and secondary schools in Howick & Pakuranga.

Read more articles about Malcolm Smith over next month as people in Howick mourn the passing of a good man.

Mayor Len Brown pays tribute to Malcolm Smith, Howick
Articles about Malcolm Smith
Uxbridge News: Malcolm Smith
Eastern Courier after Malcolm's funeral

H&P Times Obituary.

2010 Newspaper Articles

Eastern Courier interviewed Sancta Maria Primary School as they prepared for their first Koanga Spring Festival. The school is still in it's first year since opening. The senior students have helped teachers and tutors. The Sancta Maria school community can be well proud of their efforts.
Eastern Courier Interview of Sancta Maria as they prepare for the 2010 Koanga Spring Festival

Final Friday: Koanga Newsletter to Schools

Friday, September 10, 2010.

Kia Ora Koanga "Spring" Festival Whanau
4 sleeps to go and all is coming together well. We trust our tamariki are excited and looking forward to their big night.
Our Theme: “Row As One”






Couple of things that you need to know ....

1) Correct M.C. Information
Please see attached M.C. information and check that your info is correct. This is what the M.C. will use to describe your group. Email corrections.

2) Estimated Start Times
Tthe stated starting times are estimated, especially on the first night. Last year’s flexibility and understanding of co-ordinators and students was excellent. We appreciate the same this year. Be prepared, flexible and think about how to keep waiting children calm and focused. Sometimes the powhiri goes on longer then anticipated or some Roopu finish their performances a lot sooner then indicated. So long as our tamariki and adults enjoy themselves, everything else will be fine.

3) Staff Kitchen
This year we have a Staff Kitchen in the ground level changing room for all Support Crew, Co-ordinators & Tutors. If you get time, grab a complimentary quick cuppa and a bite.

4) Parking
Please find attached your Car Park Passes. Each school is allocated 2 car parks in the Picton Street Centre car park. Passes are named, numbered and can be used for one night only. See Parking Checkpoint on entry. Print off and hand on to your tutor or coordinator who is carrying students or uniforms on their performance night. There is a One Way Drop Off system. If entry is congested at any time, please park in Howick and walk. Car parking will be available close by behind the BNZ (Central Terrace) off Moore St. More parking across the road in Fencible Drive. We will have street security for these areas. There is plenty of parking in surrounding areas. Drive safely.

Child Saftey
Tell children to ask a Support Crew member in orange flash jackets if they need help, or are lost. Confirm how they will be dismissed.

Co-ordinators TXT Tu Edwards Now!
Join the Walkie Talkies today.
Main Coordinator from each school enter Tu Edwards and Pearl Sidwell into your mobile phone today. Tu: 021 970 754 and
Pearl: 0274 766 561.
Txt your full name and school so we can communicate updates or changes in real time as the next week unfolds. This means we can txt you at the Festival if necessary. Charge your phone. This is your walkie talkie.

7) Koha
This year all costs this event is covered by the Koha of our visitors and not by any school. (Although some schools bring a school koha).  Any left over koha will go towards the reopening of our Whare in the Emilia Maud Nixon Garden of Memories. A koha is whatever a person has on their heart to contribute to the given cause. This maybe 50 cents from a student that has little or $50 from a parent that has much. The intent, spirit and aroha that each donation carries is the gift that is a Koha.

8) Cash Only.
Eftpos not available due to the expense of running eftpos on site.  Cash to buy DVD’s, Kai and give Koha is available at  4 bank ATM’s nearby.

9) Festival DVDs: Pre-order $5
Fill in DVD order forms at the Festival or through School Co-ordinators. DVDs will be distributed through schools. Only pre-paid orders will be processed. $5 per DVD. Additional copies of other schools available for $5. Complete Set of 27 Schools $135 including GST. Thanks to Picton Centre and Edgewater College for Recording and Production.

10) In memory of Malcolm Smith
Great Friend of Te Roopu Awhina o Wairoa and architect of Torere our whare.
Our hearts and thoguhts go out to the whanau of a mighty local Kauri Tree Malcolm Smith who fell to mother earth this week.
“May God and our Tupuna take you into their care”.

Trust you all have a warm, safe and enjoyable weekend.

Naku Noa

Tu Edwards

Volunteer Festival Crew Members Needed

Parents and Students:
Thursday Notice:
We need some more Volunteer Festival Crew Members to help out next week.
Come and help make our Koanga Spring Festival run smoothly.
Students will receive a Certificate of Support to add to your C.V.
Come and work alongside some neat people.

If you have some time on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to help contact/text me now and I'll tell you what you can do.

Naku noa

Tu Edwards 021 970754

2010 Schedule

Teachers, Kapa Haka Leaders, Parents, Students:

See Koanga Spring Festival Schedule at bottom of Homepage

2010 Koanga Spring Festival Host:

"

"Ma te huruhuru, ka rere te manu"

Howick Pakuranga Annual Koanga Spring Festival

              Koanga Spring Festival 2010

Celebrating our Maori Culture in Howick Pakuranga Botany
Karanga mai! Nau mai! Haere mai! Welcome!

Proudly Hosted in 2010 by:  Te Roopu Awhina o Wairoa
Where: Picton Centre, Picton Street, Howick Village, Auckland, NZ.
When: September: 14 - 16th, 2010 (Tues, Wed. Thurs.)
Start time: 6pm
Koha at entry.

Food and drink on sale. 
 (All festival food and drinks to be purchased with Koanga Kai tickets available for sale upstairs, outside the Koanga Kitchen. Koanga Tickets $1, $2, $5, $10).

Contact for more information:
Tu Edwards
Email: koangaspringfestival@gmail.com
Mobile/TXT 0219 70754

Te Aroha Drummond
Email: koangaspringfestival@gmail.com
Mobile/TXT 021 1244441

Invitation to schools not performing in 2010

Tena koutou e Kaiako ma.
Kia ora to teachers and Kapa haka leaders.
Some schools in Howick Ward will perform at the Koanga Spring Festival next year (2011) for the first time.
We'd like to give a shout out to all teachers and Kapa Haka leaders who are starting a Kapa Haka group at school. We know what it's like.
Do come to the Koanga Spring Festival 2010 even if your school isn't performing. Encourage your parents of Maori students and other families in your school to pop along.
Entry is by koha. Food and beverages available.
Introduce your self when you come.
Look forward to seeing you there.

NZ Chinese Herald Article

NZ Chinese Herald article about Koanga Spring Festival

Sunnyhills Primary Practicing Kapa Haka for Koanga Festival

Sunnyhills Primary Howick Kapa Haka

Send us your school logo for Programme

Schools have the option of including their school logo on the Koanga Spring Festival 2010 Programme.

Email a large format copy of your logo to: KoangaSpringFestival@gmail.com

Short Pre-Festival Hui
Coordinators, Tutors and Student Leaders:

So as to give everyone an opportunity to see the site and understand the logistics of the evening... I would love to see you all at the Picton Centre 4pm - 4.30pm Wednesday 1st of September...

Any further information such as what's happening with car parking, food etc will be posted on our blog after the 1st of Sept hui...

Thank you for the awesome awhi you give to our Tamariki.

Naku Noa

Tu Edwards

Koanga Festival Coordinator

021 970 754

Kia ora Koanga Festival Whanau

Here are the latest up dates for you all.

1) Dates:

We have now heard from all 30 schools participating this year and are confident that your performance nights and approximate time starting will not need to alter between now and the 14th Sept 

(I have to remind myself though we have had some minor changes last minute every year for the past 6 years due to unavoidable.

2) Schedule / Times:

Please find attached the schedule for this year as of the 20th August. These are approx times only as we have yet to confirm each school's length of performance, which you all should know by now.

Please email me this detail. Your start times may alter by 10 to 20 minutes or so which we will be able to finalise by the 2nd of Sept, 2010.

School Group_______________________________ 

Length of Performance _________________mins

3) Stage:

The dimensions of the stage should be 10mtrs wide x 6mtrs deep once we have the stage extensions on the front.

(Please remember we were very spoilt by the set-up last year and need to be flexible regarding this year, bearing in mind the kaupapa behind this years event).

4) Entrance:

Rooms A & B are upstairs on the left of the stage (as you face it). Those using these rooms will enter the stage from the left side in the back corner of the stage.

Rooms C & D are downstairs and will enter the stage via the cafe, hallway on the righthand side of the stage, coming out onto the stage in the back righthand corner.

You will exit the side you came in on please.

Trust this notice gives you enough time to adjust accordingly...

5) Host Schools:

We have asked that each College assist Te Roopu Awhina with hosting on the same night that they perform. This will enable them to look after their feeder schools as well as learn how this end of the festival works.

Please call me if there are any queries around this part.

Naku noa

Tu Edwards

Koanga Spring Festival Principals & Teachers

Dear Principal and Teachers
We are currently updating the Koanga Spring Festival contact list.
Please excuse us if a generic email comes through to you regarding the Festival.
We are doing our best to personalise our email correspondence.
Our email address is KoangaSpringFestival@gmail.com

Please invite your staff, kapahaka leaders and parent support to email us.
We will be able to send them a Koanga Newsletter, and thank you after the festival.

We would appreciate all eamil correspondence going to this email address regarding the festival.
Te Aroha Drummond and I will receive all emails at this address.

We look forward to seeing you and your students at the 2010 Koanga Spring Festival.

Warm regards
Tu Edwards
2010 Koanga Spring Festival Co-ordinator

Celebrating Maori Culture In Howick, Pakuranga, Botany

2010 Koanga, the season of Spring. This season is a time to look forward to new growth, direction and positivity for our students in Howick, Pakuranga, Botany, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) and Aotearoa (New Zealand).

The annual Koanga Spring Festival is the 21st Century celebration of Maori culture in Howick & Pakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand, Maori and immigrant students reflect the pride we can all have in our unique Maori culture. School groups will gather at the Picton Centre in Howick Village this year to perform traditional and contemporary Maori cultural items. The standard of performance has been increasing each year as teachers and students build self confidence through experience.

Participating students within the newly named Howick Ward include primary and secondary schools from Howick, Pakuranga, Botany and Whitford. Te Roopu Awhina led by Kaitiaki Whaea Taini Drummond, is proud to be the original instigator of the Howick Pakuranga Koanga Spring Festival. Since it's beginning the participating schools have increased in number so the festival is now held over 3 nights to accommodate the 2400 participants.

The host this year is Te Roopu Awhina o Wairoa Trust. The Trust instigated the Koanga Spring Festival in 1993 and is responsible for the provision of many Maori cultural educational programmes throughout Howick and Pakuranga. If your college, primary or pre-school would like some teacher training or student programmes contact: TeRoopuAwhina@gmail.com.

Last year, the 2009 Koanga Spring Festival was held at Edgewater College. The Edgewater College was supported by Te Roopu Awhina, Maori Wardens and the Edgewater parent community. The performances, logistics, food stalls and entertainment was exceptional. Already interested schools have put forward bids to host 2011.

Howick Primary School joins the Festival for the first time. We look forward to seeing experienced students and beginners having fun.

2010 is a good time to host the Koanga Spring Festival in Howick.  Schools are looking forward to the rebuilding of the whare Torere in 2010. When this is back in operation, new and existing programmes will be able to utilise the maori cultural programmes offered there.