Te Matatini moves to March date

A new date has been set for the Te Matatini Festival.

A new date has been set for the 2015 national Maori kapa haka competition, Te Matatini.

It was originally scheduled for February 2015 at south Hagley Park in Christchurch.

But a clash with the ICC Cricket World Cup held at the same venue meant the kapa haka event was pushed back a month. The new date is now March 4 to 8, 2015.

Te Matatini organisers said an Environment Court ruling meant no other event could be held elsewhere at Hagley Park at the same time as a major cricket match on Hagley Oval, where the combined attendance would exceed 20,000 people.

"While we are disappointed that we have to move our festival after the dates were confirmed, we understand the Christchurch City Council's position in respect of the Environment Court ruling. Nonetheless we are committed to holding the next Te Matatini in Otautahi (Christchurch)," festival organisers said.

"We are glad to be able to support Christchurch and hold our event so the city can benefit from two major events that will each attract tens of thousands of people from around New Zealand and overseas."

Christchurch City Council events development manager Richard Attwood said it was important both events could still be held in the Garden City and appreciated the support from Te Matatini and the Waitaha Council in finding a solution. "The council is excited that a huge, international event like the ICC Cricket World Cup will be held in Christchurch with a number of games to be played, and that Te Matatini, which is a major cultural festival, will go ahead on the back of the cricket," he said. "These are the sorts of events that help revitalise Christchurch as an attractive tourist destination."

ICC Cricket World Cup organisers also thanked Te Matatini Society and the organising Waitaha Council.

"We are grateful for the willingness of Te Matatini Society and Waitaha Council to work through this with ourselves and Christchurch City Council to ensure that both events are able to take place," said Therese Walsh, head of New Zealand for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

"Both Te Matatini and the opening game of Cricket World Cup are special events for Christchurch, and celebrations the city very much deserves."