July 24, 2020
Scrapped kapa haka date chance for a celebration
Tainui Waka kapa haka has opted to appoint four teams for Matatini 2020 rather than reschedule a regional final.
Cultural Trust chair Paraone Gloyne says the August 29 date will instead be used for non-competitive whakangahau performances, taking away the pressure for kaihaka to perform in the COVID environment.
"We're still having a festival because we feel we are in need of a bit of a blow out, a bit of a celebration, but it won't be a regional competition," he says.
The groups to represent Tainui Waka are Te Pou o Mangataawhiri, Te Iti Kahurangi, Ngaa Pua o Te Koowhara and Taniwharau.
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