Te Matatini gets $1m funding boost

Te Matatini is the biggest kapa haka festival in the world and is expected to draw in crowds of 15,000 a day over seven days.

Hawke's Bay marae are set to receive a funding boost of $1 million to upgrade facilities to cater to the Te Matatini masses in 2017.

Te Matatini is the biggest kapa haka festival in the world and is expected to draw in crowds of 15,000 a day over a seven-day period.

In just 18 months 45 teams from around the country will descend on Hawke's Bay and bring with them around 1500 competitors and support crew from New Zealand and across the ditch.

So, to cater to the demand, the Marae Whakaute project was launched to upgrade some 16 marae that will host the visitors.

The funding will be used to upgrade ablution blocks and kitchen facilities, ensuring they are compliant and meet all health and safety standards.

"The goodwill of the marae trustees and the funding agencies means that we will, at the end of 18 months, have marae facilities that enable hapu to meet the demands of hospitality and continue to be an important part of our community," said Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule.

Along with the boost in visitors to Hawke's Bay, comes an expected boost to the local economy of millions.

As a gauge, the bi-annual event was last hosted by Ngai Tahu in Christchurch and bought in an estimated $24 million to the local economy.

The competition has a strong 43-year legacy of celebrating excellence in kapa haka, and Ngati Kahungunu want to keep it that way.

The last time the competition was held here was over 30 years ago, in 1983.

Now it's the iwi's turn again they want to put their best foot forward.

So with the help of numerous funders, including a collective pool of funding from marae of $244,000, a $325,000 contribution from the Hastings District Council and $591,000 from the Hawke's Bay Funders Forum, the upgrades are possible.

The 16 marae that will receive tailored help for their upgrade needs are Korongata, Matahiwi, Moteo, Timikara, Te Aranga, Mangaroa, Kohupatiki, Pukehou, Waipatu, Te Haroto, Tangoio, Omahu, Taupunga, Petane, Waiohiki, Hinetemoa.