Kapa haka programme for disabled brings remarkable change

Disability and support service provider Real World Living is making kapa haka accessible for adults living with disability.

Leading and tutoring the kapa haka group is one of its pupils, Manuaarangi Tewhatahicks.

“I used to do kapa haka during high school, and it was filled with students with special needs.

“I have noticed that a lot of adults didn't get to have a go at kapa haka at a young age.”

Janette Pebbles, managing director and part owner of RWL, says there were some difficulties at the start.

“We couldn't find anybody who really had that experience teaching kapa haka.”

When Tewhatahicks joined the RWL programme, which operates in Papakura and Penrose, Pebbles saw an opportunity.

“He was really passionate about kapa haka. So, we talked to him about perhaps setting up something himself here and running that, and that's how our kapa haka group was born.”

The group performed during an end of year function last year, and Pebbles was in awe of how well the group did.

“We couldn't believe it was the same people that [Tewhatahicks] started with. It was amazing.”

RWL vocational service manager Jackie Turvey says seeing how engaged participants are with kapa haka shows they can learn anything they put their mind to and learn valuable lessons.

“They've learned they can make choices for themselves and that's what they will do. But this group here just seems to keep growing and growing together.”

Turvey says families have seen a noticeable difference in attitude. It has been evident with Tewhatahicks and how well he has been going.

“His mother just can't believe how much he's changed and how more confident he's got, you know, and she just thinks it's the best thing ever.”

Pebbles’ long-term goal is for Tewhatahicks to get compensation for teaching people outside RWL.

Joining a competition would be another massive goal ticked, but currently they’re working towards growing the group’s confidence.

“I'd like to see [the team] just keep continuing to move forward . . . that is our biggest goal, is to be able to enter our group into a competition,” says Turvey.

Tewhatahicks hopes to continue bringing people together through kapa haka, strongly encouraging people who aren't Māori to give it a go too.

“I have a dream of uniting both people with disabilities and non-disabilities to get along, have a safe place where they can be themselves and not have any judgement towards them.”

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Our journalists sometimes use AI tools which are checked by humans for accuracy. 

AI was used to transcribe audio from the interview.