The Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) programme is a free public-interest news service dedicated to strengthening coverage of local authorities, rūnanga and other similar organisations.
Te Kāhui o Ngā Mātā Raukura from Waitara East School are preparing to take the stage at the regional competition, Te Huihuinga o Ngā Tatarakihi 2026. Although most of the group are newcomers to the world of kapa haka, their passion and excitement have seen them proudly represent Waitara East School. Kapa Haka tutor Linda Ritai reflected on the journey of the students as they overcame initial hesitation to build resilience and confidence. “For most of them, given that this is
