Tamatea Arikinui have wealth of experience

Tamatea Arikinui are excited about performing in their fourth Te Matatini Festival.

Tamatea Arikinui is one of the four teams representing Ngati Kahungunu who are competing in this year's Te Matatini Festival.

The group was formed in 1978 with their rohe affiliation in Porongahau, their hapu affiliation Ngati Kere and their marae affiliation Rongomaraeroa.

With a wealth of experience after competing in kapa haka festivals across New Zealand since 1978 the team were excited about the prospect of Te Matatini.

Member Piri Galbraith said they were looking forward to representing Porongahau and Ngati Kahungunu on a national level.

"It is inclusive and Te Matatini is apart of the bigger picture and we will continue on keeping our culture alive not just for competitions but as a way of life."

Tamatea Arikinui have competed in the Kahungunu Regionals last year and in 2014 with their last performance at Te Matatini in 2011.

Since 1978 they have competed in three of these national events, which makes for a special occasion at the end of the month.

The team have been in full preparation with rehearsal's held regularly and a dress rehearsal on February 12.

Their mission as a team and what they will take to the festival is about empowering their whanau with a strong sense of identity in their Takitimu and Kahungunutanga.

"Tamatea Arikinui continues to serve as a positive vehicle for the inter generational transmission of tikanga- both its learning and practice."

"Where there is artistic excellence there is human dignity," Ms Galbraith said.

Alongside this prestigious national competition the team were no stranger to the New Zealand Polynesian Festival, Aotearoa Maori Performing Arts, the Ikaroa Regionals and Takitimu Regionals.

The colours that represent the kapa haka group are red, black and white and their design was taken from the whare tipuna- the meeting house at Rongomaraeroa marae in Porongahau.

"It is from the niho taniwha pattern in Te Poho o Kahungunu," Ms Galbraith said.