The four-day competition brings together the traditions and stories of hapū, iwi and waka, while placing great emphasis on originality and diverse expressions of Māori artistry within the kapa haka disciplines.
Kapa haka involves a combination of singing, movement, synchronicity and choreography.
Te Matatini has been cancelled multiple times in recent years due to Covid-19.
Forty-five teams, including one from Australia, are competing this year.
It has been 20 years since Te Matatini last screened exclusively on TVNZ, where it had aired since its inception in 1972.
Kapa haka has enjoyed a growing interest and Te Matatini festival itself has increased in significance and popularity.
Te Reo Tataki/TVNZ's Manukura Māori Scotty Morrison and Gisborne-based Mātai Smith will lead the presenting line-up, alongside Seven Sharp's Te Rauhiringa Brown, Sunday's Tamati Rimene-Sproat and Stephanie Fong from Te Karere.
A rotating panel of kapa haka experts will also be in the studio to provide analysis and highlights in between performances, ensuring that novices and die-hard fans alike are entertained.
“We're so excited to be partnering with TVNZ to bring kapa haka to new audiences who have never been exposed to this artform until now,” Matatini chair Selwyn Parata said.
“Te Matatini is the equivalent of the Olympics when it comes to kapa haka and it involves thousands of hours of gruelling training.
“But the honour and prestige of performing for 30 minutes on stage makes the personal sacrifice worth it.
“Make no mistake, Te Matatini isn't just sweet waiata and twirling poi. This is a platform that reveals the pulse of the Māori nation and an incredibly important environment for Māori to raise awareness around the issues that directly affect them.
“It's vital we platform Te Matatini so there can be a better collective knowledge of the power and purpose of kapa haka amongst our general population and society.”
TVNZ, together with Aotearoa Kapa Haka Limited, Pango Productions and with funding from Te Mangai Paho, will be broadcasting Te Matatini.
It will screen live on TVNZ 2 and be livestreamed on TVNZ+ throughout the three preliminary days and finals day, and will be available on TVNZ+ for catch-up viewing.
For the first time, television viewers will be able to tune in to Te Matatini's Haka Translate service to hear translations and the meaning of compositions of all the waiata.
And on the finals day, Haka Translate will be available in five additional languages — Mandarin, Tongan, Samoan, Fijian and Cook Island Māori — via the Matatini Festival app.
