Kapa haka

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kapa-haka

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the artistic classification?Māori performing arts genre integrating choral singing, dance, and dramatic action
2. What is the geographic and cultural origin?Aotearoa (New Zealand), originating from indigenous Māori traditions
3. Where did kapa haka come from?It started in pre‑colonial Māori society with performances like haka, mau rākau, poi, and mōteatea, and grew after European contact.
4. Why do people do kapa haka competitions like Te Matatini?Competitions help Māori groups show their skill, keep traditions alive, and celebrate cultural pride.

Kapa haka: A collective term for Māori performing arts groups and their genre of song and dance.
Haka: A traditional Māori ceremonial dance, characterized by vigorous movements, rhythmic chanting, and facial expressions.
Māori: The indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, whose culture encompasses a rich tradition of performing arts.