Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa could be turned into a "stadium of 250,000 people" as the region welcomes one of the world's biggest cultural performance festivals to Hastings in two years' time.
Ngati Kahungunu iwi chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana says the iwi wants everyone - from marae, to schools, to businesses, to local authorities - to be part of the powhiri for biennial Maori performing arts festival Te Matatini at the end of February 2017.
It is expected to be held over five days at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park.
"They can't all be there," said Mr Ngahiwi, "but we want everyone to take part in the powhiri ... it could even be by live-streaming."
Mr Tomoana was speaking soon after returning to Hawke's Bay from the latest festival, which ended in Christchurch on Sunday and attracted about 10,000 visitors to the city, and venue crowds averaging 12,000 a day.
Bigger numbers are anticipated for Te Matatini 2017, which he says will cost about $4 million to stage - "which we will get in cash or kind" - but which he says will bring huge benefits to the region.