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Download AudioThe chair of Te Matatini says the biennial kapa haka competition has made a major contribution to the survival and revival of te reo Māori me ōnā tikanga over its first 50 years.
Selwyn Parata says it’s come a long way since the first Polynesian Festival in Rotorua in 1972, chaired by the late Reverend Sir Kingi Ihaka.
“It’s provided a national stage for iwi, hapū, marae, Māori communities to tell their stories, a space for them to voice their political opinions, commemorate significant events, honour loved ones and above all celebrating who we are as iwi members, as hapū members, as whānau members, as te ao Māori,” he says.
The postponed Te Matatini will be held at Eden Park in February 2023.
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