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Te Ara o Hine Rēhia is a visual foray into the world of kapa haka, told through the lens of photographer Melissa Banks and her husband Jeremy Banks. Each chapter in the book covers one of the seven different disciplines that make up a kapa haka bracket, evoking the emotions and feelings association with that item. Chaired by David de Thierry.
Taken over seven years, the photos feature the various kapa that Melissa and Jeremy’s daughters performed in through school and at Te Matatini, the national kapa haka competition. Their efforts to raise their kōtiro with te reo Māori as their first language, is a common contemporary story of reconnection to language, whakapapa and identity. Key to this journey has been the constant effort to surround their kōtiro with kaupapa Māori, a journey in which kapa haka has played a key role.
The text in Te Ara o Hine Rēhia explores the different disciplines in kapa haka, delving into the unique aspects and nuances of each item, and exploring the practice and performance process. Ultimately this book reflects what kapa haka means to this whānau and the role that it has played in their intergenerational journey of cultural reconnection.
Melissa Banks
Melissa Banks is a well-known photographer from Whakatū Nelson, in Te Tauihu o Te Waka-ā-Māui, the top of the South Island. Melissa’s photography spans documentary, commercial, lifestyle and fine art, and she is commonly seen photographing events in Te Tauihu, particularly kaupapa Māori. Melissa’s photos have been displayed in a variety of different exhibitions, both in Te Tauihu and nationally. The photos in Te Ara o Hine Rēhia were extremely well received when exhibited in both Whakatū and Wairau, and companion exhibitions resulted in the photos gracing the streets of Whakatū and also suspended from the ceiling of Nelson Airport.
Jeremy Banks
He uri a Jeremy Banks nō Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne ki Wairau, Ngāti Kuia, me Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō.
While Jeremy’s career has been in business and software, his journey of cultural reconnection resulted in teaching himself te reo Māori, so that he and Melissa could raise their three daughters speaking te reo Māori as their first language. This journey has brought Jeremy closer to his whakapapa, ultimately resulting in the whānau relocating to Whakatū where Jeremy is involved in kaupapa for his iwi and hapū, including in his current role as Tumu Whakarae – CEO for Wakatū Incorporation.
