MEDIA RELEASE
THURSDAY 21st MARCH, 2024
Capital city hosting major kapa haka festival
Wellington City will be hosting the Te-Whanganui-a-Tara senior kapa haka regionals for the
first time in ten years with six teams performing including a group comprised of workers
from the Wellington City Council.
Additionally, this year's competition promises to be especially memorable with the debut of
a brand new group, Te Kairangi ō Poutama, of Ngāti Toa, set to make their mark on the
stage alongside seasoned performers at the Michael Fowler Centre on Saturday 23rd March.
This year’s MCs are popular social media sensation, Nix Adams, veteran broadcaster Te
Hamua Nikora, and Te Rangingahina Moeahu of Te Atiawa.
Te Matatini Te-Whanganui-a-Tara delegate, Te Teira Davis, says the last time the district
hosted the kapa haka regionals was in 2020 after a series of postponements due to the
Covid-19 lockdowns. The organisers are excited to return after a four-year hiatus.
"It’s always an exciting time seeing and feeling the wairua of haka and whanaungatanga
come to the fore of such an event."
From February to May, hundreds of teams from 13 regions in New Zealand and Australia will
compete in their respective regional qualifiers to vie for a spot at Te Matatini in New
Plymouth, Taranaki in 2025.
Kapa haka teams in Mataatua, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Tauihu o te Waka a Māui, Te Arawa and
Te Kāhui Maunga have already completed their regional competitions with 22 groups
qualifying for the national Te Matatini Festival in 2025.
After the Te-Whanganui-a-Tara regionals, two more teams will qualify for Te Matatini.
Te -Whanganui-a -Tara Kapa Haka a Rohe will be held at the Michael Fowler Centre in
Wellington Saturday 23rd March 2024.
Whakaata Māori are our exclusive broadcast partner for The Road to Te Matatini.
Download the Māori+ app or visit their website at www.maoriplus.co.nz to witness the
magic of kapa haka.
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