Germans to view kapa haka

Rotorua's kapa haka group Te Matarae I Orehu have taken their talents to Germany, performing at the world's largest book fair.

The national kapa haka champions will represent New Zealand in the opening ceremony of the Frankfurt Book Fair today, where New Zealand was given the Guest of Honour status.

Te Matarae will be joined by other well-known New Zealanders at the world-famous fair, including authors Bill Manhire and Joy Cowley and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English.

It is expected more than 300,000 visitors will attend the four-day book fair.

The fair attracts representatives from book publishing and multimedia companies from across the world, who negotiate international publishing rights and licensing fees.

Some 83 New Zealand books have been translated into German this year as a result of the country being given the Guest of Honour status. The previous annual average was 10.

New Zealand has also set up a 2500sq m pavilion at the fair, with plenty of entertainment and exhibits on show, including performances from Te Matarae.

Visitors will enter the pavilion through a pathway surrounded by giant screens which play a 20-minute show reel called Secrets, produced in Auckland.

The fair is held annually at the Frankfurt Trade Fair Grounds in Frankfurt, with a new country named as the Guest of Honour each year.