Strength in Every Strand: NZCT Helps Bring Piupiu to Orewa College Kapa Haka

New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) has awarded Orewa College an $11,786 grant to purchase piupiu for their Kapa Haka group, enabling the school to proudly perform in their own traditional dress and strengthen their cultural identity.

Event Manager Korrina Cracknell says, “Having our own piupiu means our students can take pride in their performance and their identity. We're so grateful to NZCT for helping make this happen.”

The group includes more than 100 students who regularly practise and perform together, including at Auckland Council citizenship ceremonies held at the school’s own events venue. Until now, the college had to borrow piupiu for their male students, which created challenges — especially when other schools needed them at the same time.

Year 12 student Hunter Rautu says, “Having our own piupiu means so much to us. It connects us to our culture and strengthens our mana every time we wear them."
His classmate Preston Winks adds, “Before the grant, we had to rely on borrowed piupiu. Now, standing in our own, we share a much stronger sense of unity and kotahitanga as a kapa.”

Orewa College has built strong relationships within the local Māori community, and the new piupiu will be used not only by its own students but also by other local schools. The college sees Kapa Haka as a valuable way for students to express their culture, build confidence, and develop teamwork skills.

NZCT’s GM of Grants, Marketing and Communications, Ben Hodges, adds, “Knowing these piupiu will be worn with pride by so many students – and even shared with other schools – is really wonderful. The more the merrier. Grants like this wouldn’t be possible without the responsible gaming partnership we share with our local Auckland venues.”