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The Executive Director of Te Matatini, Darrin Apanui, is defending what is being criticised as a heavy handed application of rules around the national kapa haka championships.
While the controversy has not taken the gloss off the win by Auckland group Te Waka Huia, it is likely to generate debate before the next competition in Christchurch in 2015.
TVNZ and Television 3 were both punished for breaching media guidelines.
Teams also lost points for infractions such as lateness.
Mr Apanui says Te Matatini had to show it was committed to its own rules.
“We had to do what we had to, to enforce an agreement that we had with Maori Television. I think we had to do that in a way that sent a message to everyone saying that if you want to do something, then stick within the rules of what was sent out earlier," he says.
Darrin Apanui says crowds at the Rotorua International Stadium averaged over 15,000 a day.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd
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