June 24, 2016
Te Papa readies for Kaumatua invasion
Te Papa Tongarewa is gearing up for an influx of 500 kuia and kaumatua this weekend.
The annual kaumatua kapa haka caps the museum’s Matariki celebrations, and coordinator Mere Boynton says there’s 13 roopu performing over the two days.
it’s a great event for whakawhanaungatanga, hearing Maori being spoken, and bopping away to the songs and routines of the past.
She says it brings the building alive.
"You see the looks on the faces of visitors who come from New Zealand and even overseas. They wonder what is going on here. WIth 500 they make a huge impact visually and they bring that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you have your kuia and koroua around althougth it can get a bit bossy sometimes," she says.
The Kaumatua Kapa Haka will be streamed live on the Te Papa facebook page.
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