Rotorua Primary Schools Maori Festival kicks off

Kawaha Point Primary School perform at last year's Rotorua Primary Schools Maori Festival. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

The Rotorua Primary School Maori Festival (Te Ahurei o Nga Kura 2016) is under way.

The festival began today and runs until Friday at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre.

According to the festival's website it started in1975 with only four schools. Those groups were Rotorua Primary, Whakarewarewa, Lynmore and Rotokawa.

Since then the committee of teachers, tutors and community personnel have been running the festival every year.

Now more than 30 groups perform each year during the week-long festival.

Check out the website for more timetables and more information.