Drums are not commonly seen in kapa haka performances, especially compared to the widely used guitar. However, at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga, many groups incorporated the drum into their performances, paying tribute to the hosts of Taranaki and Whanganui, where the instrument holds deep cultural significance.
A key aspect of a powerful kapa haka performance is weaving connections to land and people into the presentation. Taranaki iwi leader Ruakere Hond explained that the use of drums in Taranaki dates back to a painful chapter in history—the four-year occupation of Parihaka by Government troops following the 1881 invasion of the pacifist settlement.
Hond recounted that soldiers would march through the pā each morning, sometimes beating drums to intimidate the Māori residents—who at the time were mostly women, children, and elders.
“It’s said that every morning the soldiers would walk around the pā, and some days they would bring a drum, beating it to frighten the Māori living there.”
He believed this display was meant to assert the power of the soldiers and the Queen of England. However, when Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi returned, they reclaimed the drum, transforming it from a symbol of fear into one of resilience and strength. The drum was then incorporated into poi performances, preserving the stories of Parihaka.
Each iwi that arrived at Parihaka had its own poi group, keeping history alive through performance.
“By adding the drum to the poi, they showed the Government, the Crown, and Pākehā that they were not afraid. What was once used to intimidate and demean them was now being used to uplift their spirits.”
Looking ahead, Hond is unsure whether future Te Matatini performances will continue to feature drums, but he believes that this year, they carried the voices of Tohu, Te Whiti, Titokowaru, Hiroki, and many other tūpuna who protected these cultural treasures.
Kingi Kiriona, leader of Tainui group Te Iti Kahurangi and descendant of Ngāti Ruanui in South Taranaki, praised the inclusion of drums on stage. He viewed it as a meaningful way to honor Taranaki’s history and narratives.
“These instruments are more than just musical tools—they carry genealogy and stories. Seeing them in kapa haka performances beautifully elevated the stories of Te Kāhui Maunga.”
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