Hon Nanaia Mahuta

Te Minita Whanaketanga Māori

Minister for Māori Development
20 February 2019 PĀNUI PĀPĀHO MEDIA STATEMENT

The Minister for Māori Development Hon Nanaia Mahuta says the groups performing at this year’s Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival will excite, inspire and challenge opinions of Te Ao Māori as they compete on a world stage.

“Te Matatini is the biggest event that showcases Te Ao Māori to the world,” said Nanaia Mahuta.

Over the weekend 46 groups from New Zealand and Australia who have made it through their respective regional competitions will compete for the grand prize of Te Toa Whakaihuwaka at this year’s Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival being held in Wellington, 20-24 February.

“The Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival reflects many of the Government’s priorities for Māori and New Zealand. It is a platform for the revitalisation of te reo Māori, and a path to improve well-being, re-connect with hapū and iwi, and creates a space for young Māori to emerge as leaders.”

The theme of the 2019 festival is 'Te Matatini ki te Ao', which means 'Te Matatini to the world'. The theme promotes the status of Te Matatini as a world-class festival and a global stage for Maori performance excellence featuring the very best in competitive kapa haka.

“I want to acknowledge the whānau and kaimahi who support their rangatahi and partners through the many months of preparation, practise and competition, and I want to acknowledge the performers for their passion and dedication to ensuring kapa haka flourishes from the grassroots to the international stage,” said Nanaia Mahuta.

“Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui.”

Hon Nanaia Mahuta

Te Minita Whanaketanga Māori

Minister for Māori Development

20 Huitanguru 2019 PĀNUI PĀPĀHO

Te Matatini ki te Ao

Hei tā te Minita Whanaketanga Māori, hei tā Hōnore Nanaia Mahuta, ka rangona te ihi, te wehi me te wana o te ao Māori i te tū o ngā rōpū i te taiopenga kapa haka o Te Matatini i tēnei tau.

"Ko Te Matatini te taiopenga nunui e whakapāoho ana i te ao Māori ki te ao whānui," te kī a Minita Mahuta.

E 46 ngā rōpū kua puta atu i ō rātou whakataetae ā-rohe ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara ki te pakanga mō te tohu a Te Toa Whakaihuwaka i te huihuinga kapa haka o Te Matatini ā te 20-24 o Huitanguru. Nō Aotearoa me Ahitereiria ngā rōpū.

"Kei te kitea ngā whāinga tōmua a te Kāwanatanga mā te iwi Maori, mā Aotearoa whānui tonu i roto i te taiopenga kapa haka o Te Matatini. He atamira tēnei e whakarauoratia ai te reo Māori, he huarahi anō e piki ake ai te hauora o te tangata, e huitahi anō ai te hapū me te iwi, e kitea mai ai hoki ngā rangatahi Māori e puta mai ana hei kaiārahi mō āpōpō.

Ko te kaupapa o tēnei hui i te tau 2019 ko 'Te Matatini ki te Ao'. Kei te whakatairanghia te huihuinga o Te Matatini ki te ao whānui, e kitea ai te tihi o te ao kapa haka a te Māori.

"Kei te hiahia au ki te mihi ki ngā whānau me ngā kaimahi e tautoko ana i ngā rangatahi me ō rātou hoa i a rātou e takatū ana, e whakangungu ana, e whakataetae ana i ngā marama kua pahure. Kei te mihi au ki Te Matatini i tō rātou ngākaunui, i tō rātou māia anō ki te hāpai i ngā mahi kapa haka mai i ngā kāinga o te motu ki te ao whānui."

"Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui."

ends

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