Ngapuhi Festival team mulls over live-streaming

Bubble Clifford and Mereana Pou at the 2014 Ngapuhi Festival. The event is back next year with a range of new features. Photo / File

The upcoming Ngapuhi Festival may be streamed live so whanau who are not able to attend, can still enjoy the atmosphere.

The Biennial Ngapuhi Festival will be back from January 30 to January 31 next year with a crowd of up to 60,000 attending.

Spokesman for the Te Runanga a iwi o Ngapuhi Tio Taiaki said this year's kaupapa was Hakapiri mai, Hakatata mai - where traditional meets contemporary.

"Hakapiri mai, hakatata mai encourages everyone to come together and celebrate being Ngapuhi, being Maori, being proud. It acknowledges Ngapuhi's traditional history, stories and relationships and encourages us to create a bright new future. It also acknowledges how the festival brings together traditional and contemporary arts, crafts and performances," he said.

The last event held in 2014 attracted a crowd of 50,000 and Mr Taiaki said numbers were expected to be between 50,000 and 60,000 for 2016. If the festival was live streamed Mr Taiaki said he expected a further 10,000 to 15,000 people to tune in.

Acts headlining next year's event are Beau Monga, Troy Kingi, Nyssa Collins, Brendon Thomas and the Vibes, Cydel and the Grovehouse, Dennis Marsh, and many more.

Hakapiri mai, hakatata mai encourages everyone to come together and celebrate being Ngapuhi, being Maori, being proud. It acknowledges Ngapuhi's traditional history, stories and relationships and encourages us to create a bright new future.

One of the favourite features of the festival, the Toi Ngapuhi - Maori Arts Exhibition, will return in 2016.

"Toi Ngapuhi will again showcase some of Ngapuhi's best arts and crafts, artists are asked to create a one-off special piece for the exhibition - with all artworks available for purchase.

"We have over 50 artists contributing, including live demonstrations of Ta moko, wood carving and more," said Mr Taiaki.

-Entry to the event at Northland College is free. It is a smoke/violence/alcohol/drug free event.