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The chair of the committee organising Te Hui Ahurei a Tuhoe says protecting the iwi and the country has to be the priority in the time of Covid-19.
Matt Te Pou says the decision to cancel the biannual festival was made after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced all large gatherings of over 500 people would be banned as the country attempts to limit the prospects of a coronavirus outbreak here.
The small Bay of Plenty township of Waimana was preparing to host up to 25,000 people over the Easter weekend for kapa haka and sporting competitions, debates and whakawhanaungatanga.
"You know we had to move quickly because there's financial outlay by different kapa groups, and also within Waimana itself and within the tribe there's sponsorship and because of that there was uncertainty in the iwi so there was an initial shock but we understand and we are starting to move forward," Mr Te Pou says.
He says he's now concerned about how the restrictions may affect club rugby.
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