September 29, 2013
Matatini delayed for cricket
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says the kapa haka community is making a huge sacrifice by rescheduling Te Matatini to make way for the ICC Cricket World Cup.
The next national Maori performing arts competition will be held between March 4 and 8 in 2015, rather than in mid-February.
That’s because the Environment Court has ruled Hagley Oval can be turned into a commercial sporting venue for the world cup, as long as it doesn’t clash with other major events.
Even though Te Matatini’s booking was made first, the pressure was on it to move.
Dr Sharples, the long time leader of Te Roopu Manutaki, says as a self-confessed kapa haka nut he’s disappointed.
"It’s been our time, we have it every two years, and it's convenient for groups for a number of reasons – the timing of schools' own events, because many senior pupils are in these teams and the tutors of the schools are also the same people in Matatini," he says.
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