Te Matatini is a nationwide Māori performing arts festival and competition for kapa haka performers from all of

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

and

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. The name was given by Professor Wharehuia Milroy, a composite of meaning "face" and denoting "many" — hence the meaning of ''Te Matatini'' is "the many faces". The Te Matatini festival is held every two years in different regions of New Zealand. Authority (''mana'') is given to different tribes (''iwi'') to host the festival. For example, in 2017 the ''mana'' was given to Te Whanganui-a-Tara on behalf of the

Ngāti Kahungunu Ngāti Kahungunu is a Māori iwi (tribe) located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke's Bay and Wairārapa regions. The Kahungunu iwi also comprises 86 hapū (sub-tribes ...

(''Heretaunga'') region. Mead (2003) explains: Mana is undergone by a set of rules before it is given, the people or person in charge has to accept these constraints and strive to rise above them in order to do the job that is set before them. Te Matatini is seen as playing a very important role within Māoridom in promoting the tikanga of the Māori culture and ''kapa haka.'' It provides a valuable experience for the people of New Zealand and others from all around the world, with the festival attracting up to 30,000 participants and spectators. Te Matatini celebrates the Māori culture, its beauty, and its core values. Kapa haka is a form of Māori identity and contributes to New Zealand being unique. The Te Matatini Society is the driving force behind Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival. Initially emerging in the late 1960s, it has evolved into the sponsor of a variety of Māori festivals and Polynesian events. The society in its current form was established in 1972 and has focused on the long term nurturing of Māori performing arts. The most recent kapa haka competition, Te Matatini 2025, was held in

New Plymouth New Plymouth () is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, in Devon, from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. The New Pl ...

at the Bowl of Brooklands from 25 February to 1 March 2025, hosted by Te Kāhui Maunga, the Taranaki/Whanganui regional authority.

Regions

Schedule of events

Prizes

Prizes are awarded on the final competition day. Across the five days, each team are judged against set criteria, by expert judges, appointed from around New Zealand. * The taonga (trophies) are awarded to the teams with the highest score in the seven compulsory (aggregate) and non-compulsory (non-aggregate) disciplines from the pool rounds. * The toa whakaihuwaka (overall winner) taonga is awarded to the team with the highest scores from the final day (Te Matangirua) and also determines first second and third place.Te Matatini Society Incorporated. (2017). Tāonga. Retrieved from Te Matatini Kapa Haka Aotearoa: http://www.tematatini.co.nz/festival/taonga/

Disciplines

The performances are made up of different disciplines and each haka group is required to perform six disciplines within their performance piece or bracket - whakaeke (a choreographed entry), mōteatea (traditional chant), poi (light ball swung on the end of a rope), waiata-ā-ringa (action song), haka and whakawātea (exit). They must perfect every discipline in a polished 25-minute performance.

Past winners

References

External links

Te Matatini official website.
* Te Matatini Society
History and Initiatives.
Retrieved 20 March 2010. * Te Matatini Society
Nga ture o te whakataetae: Competition rules.
Retrieved from 25 March 2010.
Kapa Haka Secondary Schools 2010.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Te Matatini Folk festivals in New Zealand Dance festivals in New Zealand Māori festivals