June 18, 2013
Te Matatini hosts set to 2039


Te Matatini Society has taken the suspense out of who will host the biennial national kapa haka competition.
It has allocated each of the 12 kapa haka rohe to host year, out to 2039.
Chair Selwyn Parata says the new system removes the significant time and costs associated with a competitive bid process, and creates certainty and the opportunity for long term planning.
The event, which now takes four days, attracts more than 1600 kapa haka performers and thousands of supporters and spectators from around the country and overseas.
Each event is generally held over four consecutive days and contributes around $7 million to local economies as performers and supporters book accommodation, restaurants and tourist activities in the area in which the event is held.
Waitaha hosts the last Matatini under the old system in Christchurch in 2015, and the 2017 competitions will be the responsibility of Kahungunu in Hawkes Bay.
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