Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025 will captivate audiences from February 25 to March 1, with spine-tingling performances. Photo credit: RNZ News.
The eagerly awaited Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025 gets underway this week, in what is the largest celebration of traditional Māori performing arts excellence in the world.
Staged every two years, Te Matatini encapsulates the power and beauty of kapa haka at the most elite level, as groups from Aotearoa and Ahitereiria compete for the coveted title of National Champion.
Pasifika TV is excited to distribute TVNZ’s hosted coverage of Te Matatini 2025, from February 25-March 1, bringing the best of Māori performing arts to our Pasifika whanau from Pukekura/Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth.
Throughout the next week, a total of 55 groups will perform on stage to an audience of approximately 70,000, and an expected 2.5 million viewers on TV or online.
This is the highest number of qualifying rōpū ever, with groups hailing from the 13 Te Matatini regions – 12 in New Zealand and one for Australia.
Competition starts tomorrow (Tuesday) and 12 finalists will be announced on Friday, ahead of the grand final scheduled for Saturday.
Once on stage, groups have 25 minutes to perform their set, which includes six compulsory components: Whakaeke (entrance), Mōteatea (traditional chant), Waiata-ā-ringa (action song), Poi, Haka and Whakawātea (exit).
A waiata tira or choral item is optional. If performed, the waiata tira happens before the whakaeke, right at the beginning.
The winner will receive the supreme title of Te Toa Whakaihuwaka, the Ngāpō Pīmia Wehi Duncan Mcintyre trophy and represent Aotearoa internationally.
The competition began in 1972, originally as the New Zealand Polynesian Festival involving 17 groups performing in front of 5,000 spectators.
Organisers strive to enable all audiences from kohanga to kaumatua to have authentic kapa haka experiences as it contributes positively to the overall health and social wellbeing of whānau, as well as significantly playing a key role in revitalising te reo Māori.
Visit the Pasifika TV website for the full schedule.
