Kapa haka fans are in for a treat after the dates and venues have been confirmed and finalised for the regional competitions held across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
From February to May, hundreds of kapa haka roopu from 13 regions in New Zealand and Australia, will compete in their respective regional qualifiers to vie for a spot at the bi-annual national Te Matatini national festival, which will be held in New Plymouth, Taranaki in 2025.
Te Matatini Chairperson, Sir Selwyn Parata, says the 12 regional competitions in Aotearoa New Zealand, and one on the Gold Coast in Australia, are major events on the kapa haka calendar, bringing together talented performers who will represent their iwi by sharing their stories and traditions.
“Our regionals are a crucial precursor to the highly anticipated Te Matatini national festival. It’s where the passion, dedication, and innovation begin to create unforgettable performances that connect with audiences.”
Te Matatini has made a major investment into the regions to help support and develop kapa haka at the grass roots level and aligning with its vision: Mana Motuhake ki te Kainga: Matatū, Mataora, Matatini ki te ao - rohe led and Te Matatini enabled, supporting the kapa haka aspirations of each region.
