October 12, 2021
Delays threaten Eden Park Matatini
Tāmaki Makaurau is set to lose hosting rights to the next Te Matatini festival.
After issuing a complicated schedule for when the already-delayed national kapa haka competition will be held, depending on Covid alert levels on October 29 and December 14, Waatea understands the organising body is now considering abandoning the Eden Park option and shifting the focus to Aotea in 2023.
On current lockdown projections there would be no way to go ahead in Auckland in February or April next year.
Ngā Tūmanako tutor Kawariki Morgan says rōpū are waiting for the announcement, but safety of whānau and whakapapa is paramount.
“So they’ve already set out for the next 10 Matatini who will host. Aotea is next but we are hoping Tāmaki Makaurau gets the chance to hold it because there are so many Māori here. Our kapa haka is the current titleholder for Te Matatini. We would love to host te iwi Māori on our home ground to defend our title. Like everyone else fingers crossed and hoping for good news,” he says.
Kawariki Morgan says kapa haka is a multi-generational group activity, which is why rōpū are getting behind a new social media campaign encouraging people to get vaccinated so they can get back to doing what they love.