An unprecedented 55 haka groups will perform at Te Matatini Festival from Tuesday in New Plymouth, Taranaki.
The groups are split over four pools – Te Ihu, Te Haumi, Te Kei, Te Awa – each pool has been allocated a performance day.
Fourteen groups will perform on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and thirteen on Friday in the preliminary round.
At the end of Friday, the top twelve teams – three selected from each pool – will be named to perform in Te Mātangirua, the finals day, on Saturday.
Organisers are expecting 70,000 to attend the event at Pukekura (Bowl of Brooklands) across the week, and 2.5 million viewers on TV or online.
Both TVNZ and Whakaata Māori are providing free-to-air coverage of the event on TVNZ 2, TVNZ+, and Māori+. Te Karere will also broadcast from the festival each weekday from 4pm.
TV viewers will also be able to tune into Te Matatini’s Haka Translate service to hear translations and the meaning of each waiata in English.
On its final day, translation will also be available in Mandarin, Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Cook Island Māori and an audio description via the festival app.
Fan zones in Auckland and Wellington
Kapa haka fans in two of our largest cities will be able to watch the finals of Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga on the big screen in dedicated fan zones.
Hosted by Ngāti Whātua in Auckland and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington, food and market stalls, cultural workshops, and live haka performances from local rangatahi groups will feature at the two locations.
Marama Royal, chair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, said they were honoured to be able to host fans at the first urban tangata whenua precinct, Te Tōangaroa, at Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi Park outside of Spark Arena.
“Te Matatini is the pinnacle of kapa haka excellence, and after the privilege of hosting the festival in 2023, we are honoured to extend our manaaki once again to whānau and manuhiri here in Tāmaki,” said Royal.
Dr Arapata Hakiwai, kaihautū-Māori co-leader of Te Papa, said the fan zone is a great way to provide a platform for Māori to “share their reo, hītori, kōrero and whakaaro”.
“Te Whanganui-a-Tara Fan Zone brings the festival wairua to the capital, offering a vibrant hub where people can gather to enjoy the livestream, experience a special pākihi Māori market, and celebrate together – making Te Matatini accessible for those who can’t journey to Ngāmotu New Plymouth.”
