A leading Māori kapa haka group based in Australia has been selected to represent Māori culture on the world stage, marking a major milestone for the rōpū and the wider Māori diaspora.
Te Kapa Haka o Te Hau Tawhiti has been invited to perform at the 2026 Nan Ying International Folklore Festival in Tainan, Taiwan, one of the country’s premier cultural events bringing together traditional performance groups from across the globe.
The invitation comes on the back of strong recent success, with the group having just qualified for Te Matatini 2027 following their regional competition campaign, further cementing their status as a high-performing kapa haka rōpū.
Set to take place in October, the festival is known for celebrating traditional dance, music and cultural expression, while fostering connections between Indigenous and cultural communities worldwide. For Te Hau Tawhiti, the opportunity carries added significance, reflecting long-standing ancestral links between Māori and Indigenous Taiwanese peoples.
Based in Brisbane, the rōpū represents a growing and vibrant Māori community living abroad, maintaining strong cultural ties to Aotearoa while expressing identity through kapa haka on international platforms. Their selection highlights the increasing global presence of Māori performing arts and the role of diaspora communities in sustaining and sharing culture.
As cultural ambassadors, the group will showcase the depth, precision and storytelling power of kapa haka, standing alongside performers from around the world in a celebration of living traditions.
Their participation is expected to not only elevate Māori culture internationally but also strengthen cultural exchange between Indigenous communities, reinforcing shared histories and connections across the Pacific.
