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It’s one of New Zealand’s most popular events… but if we’re not familiar with it, what’s special about Te Matatini?
The Māori performing arts event, officially Te Matatini Herenga Waka Herenga Tangata, is on at Eden Park this week.
It showcases kapa haka: sharing the stories of different tribes’ whakapapa, through song and movement.
It is competitive in nature and takes place over four days.
The event is “a significant cultural festival and the pinnacle event for Māori performing arts,” according to Te Matatini’s website, exemplifying “excellence in the arts, language and customs.”
The festival is held every two years, in a different city each time, and draws a crowd of thousands.
The 45 competing groups represent 13 regions within New Zealand and Australia.
“It is one of the most highly anticipated events for performers, their whānau and the mass of passionate kapa haka fans throughout the world,” organisers explain.
Teams – also called roopu or groups – are judged by a panel on every detail of their performance.
These include waiata ā-ringa (hand movements), poi, haka waiata ā-tira (composition) the manukura wahine and manukura tane (female and male leaders) and their whakawātea (exit).
Groups first qualify in regional competitions, then prepare a single performance.
“[It is] all with the intent to captivate, beguile and impress judges and audiences enough to progress to the final competition day and win the supreme title of Toa Whakaihuwaka.”
Writer Bruce Elder described the festival as “one of the truly great musical experiences,” in the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The sweet harmonies, the ferocity of the haka, the creativity of the groups and the sheer dedication of the performers make this an experience that lives in both the memories and the heart for the rest of your life,” he said.
Several Te Matatini judges come from the King Country, including Raymond Kaiki and Adam Whauwhau. They are from Mōkau and Te Kūiti respectively.
Te Matatini performances feature real-time live and simultaneous translators explaining the waiata in languages including Mandarin, Samoan and English.
The first Te Matatini festival was in 1972.
