Haka

Warrington has been identified as a great community development area for the sport of Rugby League and the last international at Wilderspool between Warrington Wolves and the New Zealand Residents on the 26th October 2003 was used to showcase a very exciting and divergent development programme, that of the Schools' Haka Programme.

The project was developed in conjunction with Bridgwater Arts College and six Primary Schools in the area and they were asked to create their own individual school Haka to perform along with the Warrington Haka - developed by students from Bridgewater Arts College.

Kevin Tamati, an ever present figure within the Community since his retirement from the game was on hand to perform the Haka and advise the students of all the participating schools on creating their own.

That work provided the basis of the repeat Haka Project in 2005.

Instead of spending half term stuck inside playing computer games or watching television, a host of Warrington youngsters got the chance to create their own Hakas and performed them at the Halliwell Jones Stadium pre-match.

'This years programme brought fun to the half-term activities for the children of Warrington,' said Neil Kelly.

'We staged a Haka workshop at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and in conjunction with the Council's Dance Development Officer, more than 100 children took part.

The day consisted of learning about the culture and traditions of the New Zealand people and most importantly of all, learning about the Haka.

Warrington Wolves' New Zealand based players were on hand to help out and the children got stuck into painting their faces like a New Zealand Maori warrior.

They then started creating their own Haka while getting to meet the real Kiwis to see what it is all about up close and personal.'