Te Matatini is celebrating 50 years of national kapa haka competition this year. Photo / NZME
Te Matatini is celebrating 50 years of national kapa haka competition this year. Photo / NZME
The Te Matatini board has confirmed the postponed national kapa haka competitions will go ahead next year following the easing of gathering limits in the Government's Covid response.
The four-day event will be at Ngā Ana Wai-Eden Park from February 21, with Te Matangirua (finals day) on Saturday, February 25.
Te Matatini has been postponed twice due to the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, however, the national committee has remained committed to staging the event, despite considering the option of cancelling and waiting until it was safe to do so.
"We'd like to acknowledge and thank our kapa haka community, sponsors, strategic partners, haukāinga and all those involved in organising the festival, who continue to work hard to stage a world-class event in 2023," chairman Selwyn Parata said.
Te Matatini is celebrating 50 years of national kapa haka competition this year. The committee and its regional delegates have put the health and safety of the entire population ahead of its decision-making since Covid arrived in Aotearoa in 2020, and encouraging kaihaka and their whānau to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the virus, in an attempt to stage the event as soon as possible.
Te Matatini chief executive Carl Ross said: "Tiakina te whakapapa continues to be at the forefront of all that Te Matatini does. We will continue to plan for the delivery of a safe event for all to enjoy and be a part of."
Ngā Ana Wai-Eden Park has already welcomed back crowds to the stands since the Government lifted the restrictions, hosting nearly 15,000 last weekend as the Blues took on Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific action, and is looking forward to hosting the largest kapa haka festival after the previous false starts.
"Our team at Eden Park is thrilled to host the next Te Matatini festival, New Zealand's most prestigious national kapa haka event," Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner said.
