Long-time kapa haka performer Louise ‘Nuku’ Kingi is hanging up her piupiu as a record-setting figure who has performed at every national kapa haka festival since 1972.
Affectionately known as Aunty Nuku by her whānau, Kingi has performed at every single event since its inception. This year she announced her retirement.
“[I’m] getting a bit slow these days, and certainly nothing wrong with the korokoro, but, however, the choreography that groups do nowadays – oh, you’re flipping over the stage or whatever – running!
“And that certainly isn’t me anymore!”
Although she did audition for her mainstay champion haka group, Waihīrere, one last time, she knew she wouldn’t make the team this year mainly because of the “jolly poi”.
“I can still sing and still do whatever I could – [a] bit slow on my kupu, but by the time we would’ve got to the festival I would have known my words, however! When the poi came down…[that was it].”
While it was never a goal of hers to reach such a milestone – twenty-five national kapa haka competitions under her belt – she credits her upbringing in the small, rural settlement of Waihīrere, located 13km north of Gisborne, for sparking her passion for kapa haka.
“The way of life that we had here – brought up on the marae by our parents, by our grandparents – we were lucky in those days.
“We had all our nannies and uncles, and kaumātua, all here. So, yes, that was number one. Number one was being at home and just enjoying and listening to our kaumātua.”
Kingi’s record is an extraordinary feat considering each group is made up of 40 performers who often go through a rigorous selection process. Some popular groups can attract a crowd of hundred-plus hopefuls to their muster.
Those who make the cut then work hard as a kapa haka to make it through a regional competition to qualify for the national event, and Waihīrere performs in one of the most competitive regionals in the country – Te Tai Rāwhiti.
However, the group has won the national title five times, most notably as inaugural champions back in 1972. The wins led to world tours, including a performance with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa at Albert Hall, London, in 1994.
Their most recent win was at Takaparawha (Bastion Point), Auckland, in 2002. Kingi recalls being back in the bus with the group during prize giving.
“The results were coming out so we all got out of the bus and went to buy a cup of coffee and stuff, you know, something to eat… we were on our way back to our bus, and the people around us were yelling at us, ‘congratulations’, and we really didn’t know that we had won… it was shock, but an awesome shock.”
Her final performance with Waihīrere in 2023 – again in Auckland but this time at Ngā Ana Wai (Eden Park) – was dedicated to the communities of the East Coast and Hawke’s Bay following the devastating impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on those regions.
Kapa haka has always been a part of Kingi’s world. As kids they had no choice in the matter, she said.
“We were always kids who had to do – who had to do – in those days, kapa haka.
“We had to come to practice when Uncle Bill [Kerekere] had started up teaching us. And I think I was the age of 3? Three-years-old in those days. Yes, we were about three when we all started, all the young kids around here, started at the age of three.”
Kingi said they were not taught te reo as children but kapa haka was a force in its revitalisation in the community.
“Ināianei, ngā mokopuna, taku mokopuna, kei te mōhio rātou ki te kōrero (Now the grandkids, my grandkids, they know how to speak).
“Most of them go to kura kaupapa, and wharekura. Now off to uni, and kei te kōrero Māori (they are speaking Māori).”
Her parting advice for upcoming kaihaka of Waihīrere?
“Just look after the people that you have in your club. It’s about whānau, it’s about, you know, you’re always talking about sharing, about caring and giving, and for me, that’s what I’m saying to them.
“Share what you have. Learn what people teach you but keep together and don’t break the cycle. Just keep that cycle going.”
Glossary
kapa haka – Māori performing art, haka group
piupiu – traditional skirt garment made from dried flax leaves
whānau – family
korokoro – throat (often referred to in context of singing or voice)
poi – ball on a string used in kapa haka
kupu – word(s)
kaumātua – elder(s)
kura kaupapa – Māori immersion school
wharekura – Māori immersion secondary school
kaihaka – haka performer