A Te Hui Ahurei a Tūhoe event that was expected to draw thousands this Easter has been cancelled amidst coronavirus safety concerns.
Up to 15,000 people were expected to attend the festival in the Bay of Plenty community of Waimana this Easter weekend.
First held in Rotorua in 1971, the biennial festival was established by John Rangihau to strengthen the identity of urban Tuhoe and for Tūhoe descendants to join together on the stage and sporting field.
It was a way of bringing the iwi together and retain unique aspects of its language and culture among Tūhoe youth.