TE MATATINI O TE KĀHUI MAUNGA 2025 FESTIVAL INFORMATION
On Tuesday 25 February 2025 to Saturday 1 March 2025, 55 groups will perform on stage at Pukekura/Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth to an audience of approximately 70,000, and an expected 2.5 million viewers on TV or online.
The Te Matatini biennial Festival is the largest celebration of traditional Māori performing arts excellence in the world. It encapsulates the power and beauty of Kapa Haka at the most elite level as groups from Aotearoa and Ahitereiria compete for the coveted title of National Champion.
The competition began in 1972, originally as the New Zealand Polynesian Festival
involving 17 groups performing in front of 5,000 spectators.
We strive to enable all audiences from kohanga to kaumatua to have authentic Kapa Haka experiences as it contributes positively to the overall health and social wellbeing of whānau, as well as significantly playing a key role in revitalising te reo Māori.
We are honoured to welcome kaihaka, supporters, whanau, and audiences to Te
Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025.
Watch the cultural narrative video for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga here.
Pōwhiri
The pōwhiri for all kapa haka groups competing at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga will be held on the morning of Monday 24 February 2025 at Maratahu Huakai / Yarrow Stadium, Maratahu Street, New Plymouth. The pōwhiri start time is still to be determined.
Qualifying Rōpū
Thirteen senior regional Kapa Haka competitions involving 201 teams, with approximately 67,500 attendees were held in 2024 - the biggest senior regional competitions held to date resulting in the highest number of qualifying rōpū ever - 55.
Here are the rōpū that will be competing at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025.
Coverage of the 2024 Kapa Haka Regionals can be watched on MAORI+
Judges
The below 50 judges have been selected to judge kapa haka performances at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga Festival 2025 as teams compete for the title of national champion.
The process of selecting judges is careful and thorough, with 13 regions nominating candidates who are highly qualified, impartial, experienced in performing and in the intricacies of the respective kapa haka disciplines.
Each rohe submits a list of judges and the first and second choices of judges from each rohe are automatically appointed to their preferred discipline. If there is a shortage of judges in a specific discipline, further judges from the rohe lists are then considered.
*Confirmed Judges as at 20 September 2024.
Judges scores and comments will be entered into an automated system, which will identify the three teams from each pool with the highest marks to go through to the finals.
Judging then starts over again to find Te Toa Whakaihuwaka - the best kapa haka overall in seven compulsory disciplines: whakaeke (entrance), mōteatea (traditional chant), waiata ā-ringa (action song), poi (song with poi), haka, whakawātea (exit) and te kairangi o te reo (excellence in Māori language).
Trophies are also awarded to the winners of each discipline, and for the best choral, male and female leader, costume, and original compositions.
Accommodation
Explore accommodation options in New Plymouth through this link -
https://www.taranaki.co.nz/visit/where-to-stay/
General and Motorhome Camping + Festival Ticket Bundles
If you would like to camp or bring a motorhome you can purchase a Camping Bundle Ticket which includes the 5-day festival pass and six nights of camping accommodation from Monday 24 February to Saturday 1 March 2025. The Camping + Festival Bundle packages are available for up to six people.
Camping rules and how to book a site
Enjoy your Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025 camping experience and keep it safe by following and adhering to our camping rules.
-
To camp you must purchase a Camping bundle with a five-day Festival pass.
-
Camping bundle is for six nights from 10:00am Monday 24 February departing on 11:00am Sunday 02 March 2025.
-
Camping facilities include toilets, showers, temporary camp kitchen facilities, shared refrigeration facilities and an information office
-
Must bring your own pots, cookware, utensils, tea towels, towels and dishwashing products
-
Campers must be 18+ years OR accompanied by a parent/caregiver to camp.
-
All campsites are unpowered. There are no powered sites.
-
You cannot select a specific camp site. However, zones are coloured and you must choose a zone at time of purchase. Refer campsite map for zones.
-
Groups wishing to camp next to each other should purchase camping tickets in the same zone and arrange to arrive together. No Saving spots!
-
Must be respectful to all campers and camp in the zone you purchased.
-
Campers must occupy only the purchased site, do not extend into your neighbour's site, that’s just being a hōhā!
-
Attempting to camp anywhere else creates a bad buzz for us and you.
-
During festival hours, we ask that vehicles limit entry and exit in and out of the campsite.
-
All campers are expected to behave in a courteous manner to other campers.
To keep everyone safe, and to protect our beautiful environment, we ask that you not bring any of the following items into the Te Matatini campground.
-
Alcohol – Te Matatini runs an alcohol free festival
-
Amplified sound – in other words large speakers, sound systems
-
Animals – only service animals are allowed
-
Compressed gas tanks – helium, nitrous etc
-
Drones or remote-control vehicles or toys
-
Drugs or drug paraphernalia
-
Extra car batteries
-
Flammables – including fireworks.
-
Furniture – sofas, couches, recliners, lazy boy chairs etc
-
Generators
-
Heating appliances
-
Kegs
-
Open flames – candles, campfires, bamboo torches etc
-
Balloons
-
Segways
-
Slip-n-slides
-
Weapons of any kind (including toy ones)
-
No cooking inside of tents
-
No gas bottles
-
No BBQ’s
If you are found with any of these items, entry to the campground will be refused. The item/s may be confiscated, you may be escorted from the campground, and/or our security / the Police may be informed. If you are unclear about an answer, assume the answer is NO and leave it behind. General Campground FAQs can be found here.
Getting Involved
Stallholders
Applications have closed for stalls at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025. Applicants will be informed by email on 28 September 2024 if their application has been successful or unsuccessful.
Volunteering
If you would like to volunteer at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025 please email volunteering@tematatini.co.nz.
Additionally, we welcome you to complete the expression of interest (EOI) to volunteer form here. All who complete an expression of interest (EOI) will be sent an email with the official application link to apply.
An official call for volunteers will be made at a later date.