Te Matatini

“𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑂𝑙𝑦𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑎𝑜𝑟𝑖 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴𝑟𝑡𝑠" Mana motuhake ki te kainga. Matatū, Mataora, Matatini ki te ao! The trajectory of Te Matatini since its inception 51 years ago has been coloured by transformation. It’s overseen an ever-changing approach to performance, sound and costume in the world of kapa haka. What started as the New Zealand Polynesian Festival in 1972, among the geothermal wonders of Whakarewarewa in Rotorua, has grown into a state-of-the-art biennial festival that’s hosted by a different iwi each time. Renamed Te Matatini – “the many faces” – in 2004, the event now sees the cream of the crop of kapa haka teams battle over four days to be crowned Toa Whakaihuwaka, the champions of Te Matatini. Held every two years Te Matatini is the most highly anticipated Kapa Haka festivals for performers, their whānau, and fans. Thousands of hours go into composing, teaching and rehearsing the routines.