Haka hoedown

PAKENHAM Secondary College students shouted and stamped their feet when they executed the Haka.
About 15 performed the traditional Maori dance last Tuesday week, the culmination of an arts and culture program involving the school.
The new program ran for five weeks and involved Year 7 and 8 students working together to learn about New Zealand.
VCAL students Robert, Anique and Brook co-ordinated the Haka program as part of their goals assignment.
The trio organised a special guest to come in and teach students from all year levels the Haka and the meaning behind it. Cardinia Shire Council Youth Services team and six other students worked alongside artist Tara Kingston to design and paint artwork which formed a backdrop for the performance.
Cardinia Shire Council’s Youth Outreach officer Kelly Hicks said youth workers, and the art and VCAL students learned the Haka and performed it to their peers and teachers the same day.
“They explained what the Haka meant to them after they had spent the morning learning about the history behind it,” Ms Hicks said.
“The backdrop provided by the art group looked fantastic and really emphasised the New Zealand culture with its patterns and symbols.”
Pakenham Secondary College teacher Laura Henderson was hopeful Robert, Anique and Brook could co-ordinate “their own Haka club to keep the culture going”.