Mathew Mua says he was surprised when son Te Pari told him noise control had been called out to a kapa haka practice in Seatoun on Saturday afternoon.

A kapa haka group rehearsing in a school hall were told to quieten down or face being kicked out, after an angry neighbour complained to Wellington City Council.

The group from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Mokopuna, in Seatoun, were practising about 1pm on Saturday for an upcoming competition when a noise control officer knocked on the door.

School board chairman Jason Ake said the Recon Security officer told them their guitars would be confiscated if they did not quieten down.

KEVIN STENT/ FAIRFAX NZ Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Mokopuna board chairman Jason Ake says the kapa haka group were not loud enough to warrant a noise control callout.

"I said, 'What would happen if we carried on practising after that?' and his response was, 'I'll get the police involved and get you escorted off the premises.'

"It was absolutely ridiculous. It was just before lunch and we were practising as normal, and there was not a lot of haka, just singing, no thumping ..."

Ake, who felt there were "some racial undertones" to the officer's demands, said he asked what would be a permissible activity at a school during the weekend.

"I was very surprised by his response. He said, 'Well, you can sit down and talk, you can knit, you can read a book or you can play PlayStation'."

A Wellington City Council spokesman confirmed there had been a complaint and that it was looking into the incident. Recon Security, which was contracted to deal with noise control, had been asked for a detailed report.

"After initial queries it sounds like a bit of a 'he said, she said' situation. The noise control officer said that he was not threatening or intimidating to the person he spoke to.

"He certainly denies being racist. Wellington City Council doesn't do racism."

Recon Security general manager Scott Murray said it was communicating with the council and would provide a report. He would not comment further.

The 26-strong kapa haka group has been practising for weeks in the leadup to the Wellington regional competition, to be held next week. Ake has written to the school's neighbours asking them to contact him if they have any complaints.

They had received visits from neighbours in the past, but it had all been sorted out, he said.

"It's their democratic right to do what they want, but we would go to them if we had an issue, so we would appreciate if they do the same. We could sort it out like adults."

Most residents questioned on Wednesday said they had no problem with the group practising.

One neighbour said he was surprised there had been a complaint. "They've been practising outdoors, indoors, nights, weekends – and hats off to them. They're a dedicated bunch of people ...

"All I was hearing was dancing and singing and jovial and passionate. It's good to see some commitment."

Another said: "What a privilege it is to enjoy Maori culture on our doorstep in our neighbourhood. Beautiful singing, lots of laughter.

"Seatoun is a better place for it. We're lucky to have them as neighbours."

Kapa haka group member Te Pari Mua, 17, said it was "a bit sad" that someone would complain about the practice, especially on a Saturday afternoon. "I don't get why they would, when it's in the middle of the day."

His father Mathew said he was shocked to hear of the complaint. The rehearsals were for only six weeks of the year, and the competition was something all the students looked forward to.

The immersion school moved to the former Seatoun School in Falkirk Ave in 2002, from its former site in Newtown. There was opposition at the time from some residents, who aired fears of gangs, parties, tangi, falling house prices and a change in the character of the area.

HOW MUCH NOISE IS TOO MUCH?

* Wellington City Council has no set level for excessive noise, and no time of day when it is permissible.

* Noise control officers use their discretion to determine whether noise is excessive.

* If noise deemed excessive isn't reduced immediately, the source of the racket can be seized.

* Those responsible for the noise may also face a fine of up to $10,000 if they fail to comply with the council's order to be quieter.

* Police can accompany a noise control officer onto the premises and remove whatever is causing the noise, or render the equipment inoperable, or lock away or seal whatever is causing the noise, or take any other steps needed to reduce the noise.

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