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Indigenous

Balancing tradition and innovation: The ever-changing style of kapa haka | Kia Wiri! Episode 6

The final episode of Te Ao Māori News' Kia Wiri! series.

Welcome to our new online digital series ‘Kia Wiri!’ We’re talking everything haka. Some kōrero may surprise you.

Kapa Haka styles, choreography and expressions have developed and changed over the years and some will argue it’s part and parcel of a living and thriving culture and practice.

This episode examines the delicate balance between preserving tradition and embracing innovation. Is the modernisation of kapa haka a celebration of growth, or does it risk losing the essence of its ancestral roots?

Our kāhui kaikōrero share their whakaaro.

Whatitiri Te Wake
Whatitiri Te Wake

Whatitiri Te Wake (Te Rarawa ki Hokianga) is a multimedia producer for Te Ao Māori News with more than a decade of experience across Aotearoa’s leading newsrooms. He is passionate about amplifying community voices and driving change through storytelling. To share your kōrero, contact him at whatitiri.tewake@whakaatamaori.co.nz.

Peata Melbourne
Peata Melbourne

Peata Melbourne (Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata) is the News Editor at Whakaata Māori. Formerly the news anchor for the Whakaata Māori flagship show, Te Ao Mārama, she has also previously worked at the station as a current-affairs producer, reporter and presenter.