March 17, 2020
Kapa haka opt for safety
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The performers will be there.
The judges will be there.
The audience – kahore.
Organisers of the Te Tai Tokerau kapa haka finals have decided the 15 groups will perform at Whangarei’s Kensington Stadium on March 28 with no audience.
This follows a ban on all events with audiences of more than 500 people, brought on because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Waitangi Cultural Committee spokesperson Robert Diamond says it will be livestreamed on the Māori Television website and Te Reo Channel.
"Safety is paramount and we know those potentially most affected are our kaumatua and they're our number one supporters for all kaupapa like this so we want to make sure they're kept safe as well," he says.
This Saturday’s Aotea kapa haka regional in Hawera will also be a judge-only event.
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