Eight local kura came together for a cultural day on Saturday.

With the support of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, the Whakatāne Community of Learning organised Te Haro Toroa at Trident High School.

Eight hundred performers participated, sharing kapa haka, dance, drama and a band performance.  

The CoL’s across-schools teacher, Dwayne Hudson, said each performance told a story.

“We also had art on display from our students; each piece was connected to local narratives,” he said.

Whakatāne High School had its staff kapa haka group perform, and some of the members’ children also performed with their respective schools.

“This is our inaugural year for it; the plan is to run the festival every two years,” Mr Hudson said.

An associated sports day had to be postponed because of wet weather.

It will be rescheduled for some time around Matariki.