This weekend's Kaumatua Kapa Haka was lively proof that being in your nineties is no barrier to captivating an audience and teaching them a thing or two.
Members of Wellington's Ngati Poneke Pakeke perform on stage at Te Papa. Photo: RNZ / Jonathan Mitchell
The event, celebrating some of Kapa Haka's best loved songs and traditions, was held at Te Papa in Wellington as part of Matariki celebrations.
Ten kapa haka groups with about 300 performers, aged between 50 and 98, brought their experience, passion and grace to the weekend's festivities.
New Zealand Post sponsors the event and spokesperson Charles Ropitini said it was a wonderful opportunity for the elders to get together and celebrate with whanau.
"They come year on year to see their friends and to perform for each other and remember old times mainly," he said.
Mr Ropitini said the performers chose songs of a certain vintage to honour the past - and preserve them for the future.
"They are songs that they've performed for a long time. So one of the rules if you like around the festival is that all of the songs and waiata that they sing are pre-1970," he said.
New Zealand Post's Charles Ropitini Photo: RNZ / Jonathan Mitchell
The Wellington based, Ngati Poneke Pakeke, has some of the oldest kaumatua, and they were met with cheers of delight as they took to the stage.
Puti Mackey has been a member of that group since 1958.
She said a founding member of the group from the 1930s is now 98, and was on stage at the weekend to perform.
"Our main theme is about keeping the culture alive from children - right through to the elders ... we meet every Monday, we have been doing that since 1937," she said.
Charles Ropitini said he expected Kaumatua Kapa Haka will continue to thrive in years to come.
