02 Apr 2025
For five days in February and March 2025, Aotearoa turned its collective attention to Pukekura Park in Ngāmotu, as Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga showcased the finest kapa haka performers from across the motu. More than just a competition, Te Matatini stands as a beacon of te reo Māori, toi Māori, and the vibrancy of our cultural identity.
With an estimated 70,000 attendees across the festival and a record-breaking television and online audience of 2.5 million, Te Matatini continues to prove itself as one of the most significant events on Aotearoa's arts and cultural calendar. The event was capped off with a sold-out finals day, Te Mātangirua, where 12 teams took the stage to compete for the Ngāpō Pīmia Wehi Duncan MacIntyre trophy.
That being said, Te Matatini has long been much more than an elite competition. It is a showcase of excellence, an event where reo Māori, tikanga, and whanaungatanga are front and centre, and not necessarily just on the competition stage.
Taku Ringa He Poi, Taku Ringa He Manu
Taku Poi He Manu, Taku Ringa He Manu is a Mātauranga Māori Revitalisation Programme initiated in 2023 through a two-year iwi investment partnership between Te Tōpuni Ngarahū, representing the eight iwi of the Taranaki region, and Creative New Zealand.
The programme's name, "Taku Poi He Manu, Taku Ringa He Manu," reflects the significance of poi in Māori culture, symbolising the connection between the performer's hand movements and the graceful flight of a bird. This metaphor underscores the programme's goal of intertwining traditional art forms with contemporary expressions, ensuring their relevance and vitality in modern times.
This programme aims to rejuvenate traditional Māori knowledge and art forms, using manu imagery in how it can inspire creativity and artistic expression.
Still running high after the pōhiri the previous day, Te Tōpuni Ngārahu chair Wharehoka Wano said that while the pōhiri was the result of two years gathering experts, performers and ringatoi across many artistic fields in preparation to host Te Matatini, the outcomes will stretch far beyond this event.
“Ko te hunga i tū atu inanahi, ko te nui he taiohi, ko te reanga mō te āpōpō, koirā te whāngaitia nei e ngā Kaiako, e ngā mātanga o tēnei reanga, me te mōhio akuanei ka mutu a Te Matatini, ka haere tonu ngā ritenga Kaupapa ki roto i a mātou” Wharehoka Wano says.
Taku Poi He Manu, Taku Ringa He Manu featured two phases, Taku Poi He Manu which focused on the revitalisation of performing arts traditional to the Taranaki region, and Taku Ringa He Manu with a focus on visual arts.
Phase one, Taku Poi He Manu, was embodied at the pōhiri which was a spectacular expression of the unique style influenced by ngā iwi o te Kāhui Maunga. Resplendent in white as a homage to how Māori dressed in the 1800s, the ope haukāinga of over 300 strong performers welcomed the visiting crowd with a more gentle approach unseen before at a Te Matatini pōhiri. Sure, there were still kaiwero and traditional weapons used in the performance, but this was accompanied by poi manu which is a tradition specific to Taranaki iwi, and overall, there was a sense of peace in the air as the crowd watched the beautiful performance in wonder.
Phase two, Taku Ringa He Manu, was on display in the art pieces on display all over the event which were a clear communication of the theme featuring poi and manu as the artists were encouraged to express themselves as uri o Te Kāhui Maunga.
Ngā Toi Māori out and about
Toi Māori was also on show throughout Pukekura Park as practitioners from all over the country shared their mahi in their various mediums. A tent where kaiwhakairo chiselled away at pou, another where Tame Iti was teaching kids mahi uku, another where Māori hand games and mahi whai were happening, and even a toi moko tent where people were the canvas, keen to get a lasting memento of the event. There were also many businesses selling kākahu and products sporting Māori motifs.
One such tent was hosted by the Waitara Artists Cooperative. The Waitara Artists Cooperative was established to promote and support Waitara artists, working together in a collaborative environment, and increasing the number of creators of cultural works by working together. Chairman of the Waitara Artists Co-op, Keiron Toa says that what was once just an idea is now a community of local artists lifting each other up.
“The journey started five years ago in 2020, a friend of mine, Arno Percival, he came up with the idea when he saw me working away in my workshop by myself and said ’hey, how about you form a co-operative so you can come together and share your ways and ideas and go on the journey together so you have a support network’,” Keiron Toa says.
Keiron says proudly that their community has grown a lot in those five years, and that they are lucky enough to have mentors helping the next generation of ringatoi hone their skills, as was the case with up-and-coming carver D.J. Ahu who has been working with master carver Rangi Bailey.
Keiron says proudly that their community has grown a lot in those five years, and that they are lucky enough to have mentors helping the next generation of ringatoi hone their skills, as was the case with up-and-coming carver D.J. Ahu who has been working with master carver Rangi Bailey.
“Been tutoring for years, but this was an opportunity because my time’s now coming to an end – I won’t be carving for too much longer, 10-20 years max. I’ve got three sons, and none of them want to carve so I need to find where my tools are going to go next. Don’t want them sitting in the back of the drawers rusting,” Rangi Bailey says.
“It’s awesome because when I was coming through school, we didn’t really have the opportunities like this, and just having someone in te ao Māori and toi Māori to guide you through all that is just awesome,” D.J. Ahu says.
D.J. was stoked to have his mahi featured and sold at Te Matatini as a chance to tell their unique local stories nationally.
“I’m just keen on all the learnings we’re gonna get, all the learning from restoring the marae and restoring the walkways with some of the matua and the other carvers of Taranaki. It’s gonna be awesome,” D.J. says.
Waitara Artists Cooperative receives funding from the Creative Communities Scheme which helps city and district councils to fund local arts projects, supporting more than 1,800 projects every year. Kaupapa like the Waitara Artists Cooperative represent the goals of Te Hā o ngā Toi, our Māori Arts Strategy that aims to see Ngā Toi Māori visible everywhere and highly valued as part of Aotearoa’s distinct identity, which is admired globally.
On the stage
Haka was, of course, the reason for the season, and it did not disappoint! The biggest event so far, with 55 teams from all over Aotearoa and Australia taking to the stage over the five days of competition. All the teams shared their artistry, precision, and innovation, reflecting generations of dedication, ensuring that kapa haka remains a thriving and evolving artform.
Some of the more interesting composition themes included favourites such as te reo Māori advocacy and the future of the Māori people, with new issues such as AI coming to the fore. Art imitated life as political issues and fears and current events were discussed on the stage, but there was also a sense of returning to classic styles and iwi traditions. One such group that seemed to give old school a new lease of life were winners Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue.
Supporting Te Matatini
Our ongoing support for Te Matatini comes under the Māori Strategy and Partnerships team and is a reflection of our commitment to strengthening toi Māori as a fundamental part of Aotearoa’s cultural landscape through Te Hā o Ngā Toi Māori, our Māori arts strategy.
This year, our investment contributed to venue accessibility, digital broadcasting, and the development of kapa haka at all levels—ensuring that tamariki and rangatahi are empowered to see themselves in this space and aspire to take the stage in future years.
Paula Carr (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine, Ngārauru, Te Atiawa), Senior Manager, Māori Strategy and Partnerships says Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga Festival was an epic success and a great example of what can be achieved, even at a community level, when we all work together.
"There is much to be valued and appreciated by our creative agency from working at regional level with hapu and iwi and our toi communities, particularly as we refresh our national strategy for ngā toi Māori from 1 July 2025,” Paula says.
The economic impact of Te Matatini is also undeniable. The festival injects millions into the local economy, supporting artists, suppliers, and businesses. Beyond the dollars, it fosters deep community engagement, with thousands of volunteers, whānau, and supporters working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this kaupapa to life.
The conversations sparked at Te Matatini 2025 reinforce the ongoing need for sustained investment in kapa haka. From discussions on embedding kapa haka in our education system to the growing international interest in our indigenous performing arts, the momentum is undeniable.
As we reflect on another exceptional festival, we remain committed to advocating for and investing in the growth of toi Māori. Te Matatini is more than an event—it is a movement, a legacy, and a testament to the strength and mana of our people.
The future of kapa haka is bright, and we are proud to stand alongside the thousands who ensure its brilliance endures for generations to come.
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