This year, it was Onerahi Primary Schools turn to host the Te Whanga Kapa Haka Festival where they hosted Raurimu Avenue, Parua Bay and Whangarei Heads schools. Occasionally at these types of events, there are food choices on offer that don’t provide students with a lot of goodness. Not this year though, Onerahi Primary said NO to unhealthy kai being sold. This was set as the kaupapa of the day to provide healthy options for everyone attending, and it worked a treat!

Teacher and Organizer Kim Te’o explored the vision with his class and discussed the purpose of the event as being one of culture and language learning as well as community collaboration. “When we discussed kai, some of the children mentioned that we should only sell things that aren't too bad for our health, because Kapa Haka is about strength and mana and one of the children even mentioned our school's healthy food policy” says Te’o.

The kids also liked the fact that while a lot of other schools often sell lots of fizzies and ice blocks at their Kapa Haka Festivals, they were bucking the trend, and actually putting our words in to action by avoiding unnecessary sugary food items. Te’o goes onto say “they were proud of this”.

A good amount of money was raised via Hangi Sales, Chop Suey and Seafood Chowder which was in the vicinity of $2500. The PTA also sold sausages and water.

The senior students ran the Blender Bike which promoted physical activity as well as healthy smoothies. With the blender bike, fruit, water and ice were put into the blender which is stuck to the front of the bike and students had to cycle the bike to blend the smoothie. The line at one stage, had about 50 children waiting patiently for their turn to blend their own smoothie!

School Energizer Clark Lewis from Sport Northland praises Onerahi for sticking with this healthy kaupapa. What is your school doing to to buck the trend for what lies ahead in 2018?

Pictured above - Rocky 11 and Caleb 10 of Room 21, are preparing the fruit for the busy day ahead.