ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FESTIVAL
The St Brigids Kapa Haka festival was started by Matuā Wayne Firmin back in 2001.
The festival was started so that our rangatahi from the Northern Suburbs had a bigger audience to perform to as opposed to performing just in front of their own schools.
The festival has and always will be a festival which is not judged on the performance but on the love of performing, along with giving the opportunity for other cultures to see and experience the Māori culture.
The very first festival was held by St Brigids, hosted at Newlands College, the schools that performed that day was St Brigids, Raroa Intermediate, Newlands College, Onslow College, Cashmere School and Rewarewa School. It was expected that around 300 people may attend but over 700 people turned up, what great start.
This festival is now an annual event, and all those who attend have a abosolute blast, from the children performing to the parents, family and friends, and awesome friendships being made amongst all who attend.