10 Feb 2025
Tens of thousands of people will gather in Ngāmotu New Plymouth at the end of this month for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga Festival. The Taranaki region last hosted the prestigious competition in 1994, and the hosts are all set again to make it memorable for the 55 teams competing and the expected audience of 70,000 and online audience of millions.
Creative New Zealand has partnered with Te Tōpuni Ngārahu for Taku Poi He Manu, Taku Ringa He Manu to support ngā iwi o Taranaki to grow the number of matanga, particularly in the oral arts, as they prepare to host the five-day Festival – set to be the biggest since its start in 1972.
In addition, CNZ, Te Matatini and Te Tōpuni Ngārahu have collaborated to provide an exhibition space in the Toi Village that is part of the festival.
Paula Carr (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine, Ngārauru, Te Atiawa), Senior Manager Māori Strategy and Partnerships says the investment is made possible under Creative New Zealand’s national strategy for Māori arts, Te Hā o ngā Toi.
“Te Hā o ngā Toi supports more Māori artists and practitioners to grow and to make ngā toi Māori visible everywhere for everyone to enjoy,” Paula says.
This regional partnership with ngā Iwi o Taranaki is an example of Creative New Zealand supporting Māori to deliver on toi aspirations according to Māori, and in their own way.
“Sometimes you just need to give over the pūtea and get out of the way,” Paula says.
The exhibition will feature live demonstrations and artworks on display by ringatoi who whakapapa to these waka - Tokomaru, Kurahaupō and Aotea.
“Taku Poi He Manu, Taku Ringa He Manu has focused on mātanga who hold vital Taranaki tikanga, cultural, artistic, and technical knowledge providing mentoring, leadership, and technical oversight to build the capacity and capability of ngā ākonga,” Paula says.
Tamzyn Pue (Ngāti Maruwharanui, Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru), was invited to speak to the kaupapa as Te Kāhui Maunga representative. While the focus is on the production of work for the Taku Poi He Manu, Taku Ringa He Manu, Tamzyn sees the connections between all toi Māori forms. She especially acknowledges the role of Pātea Māori Club in fostering cultural pride and revitalisation.
“I mean, without them and their example we wouldn’t exist today, our teams in Taranaki. They paved the way for us, when we were kids, by saying, ‘come on kids, this art form of ours is beautiful’. Our culture carries the waka, it’s the vessel that carries our history and knowledge and they presented it,” Tamzyn says.
Tamzyn’s hope is that visitors to the marquee exhibition will recognise these connections, see progress, and take inspiration for the future.
Te Matatini is in the Bowl of Brooklands at Pukekura Park in Ngāmotu New Plymouth from Tuesday 25 February to Saturday 1 March.
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