Te Matatini Mahau Arrival Signals Start of Festival

Te Matatini Mahau Arrival Signals Start of Festival

Four containers arrive on site at Hagley Park in Christchurch this morning signalling the final passing over of the Te Matatini mauri to Waitaha and the beginning of the site build for the biennial national Kapa Haka Festival.

The containers hold the Te Matatini mahau (porch front) which will be erected to frame the main stage on which 45 kapahaka will perform over the four day Festival.

Jointly owned by Te Matatini Society Incorporated and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, it is one of the largest Māori carvings in Aotearoa.

Te Matatini Chairman, Selwyn Parata said the mahau took six months for carvers at the Institute in Rotorua to create using native timbers including a huge kauri carbon dated at 4,500 years old.

“The imposing structure spans 30 meters, is over 13 meters high and weighs 26 ton. The mahau carvings represent iwi throughout the motu (islands) and unite all aspects of the arts.”

The whakatau for the mahau will take place at 11.00am on Monday 23 February 2015 at the Special Events Area, Hagley Park.

Te Matatini Executive Committee and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Craft Institute will hand over the mahau to Waitaha Cultural Council which is host for the 2015 Festival.

Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival is now the world’s largest celebration of Māori traditional performing arts, attracting over 30,000 performers, supporters and visitors over four days.

The Festival is a whānau friendly, smoke, alcohol and drug free event. It is an opportunity for all people, regardless of culture, background or age to come together, to share and celebrate the richness of Māori culture.

Audiences can witness the best kapa haka in the world, taste Māori and local southern delicacies, shop for Māori arts and crafts and experience cultural exhibitions and workshops.

The Festival is hosted by the Waitaha Cultural Council and supported by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Christchurch City Council. It will be held at North Hagley Park from 5-8 March 2015.

ENDS

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