Te Matatini 2027 won't be held in Nelson, organisers looking for new host
Performers from Muriwhenua kapa haka at the 2025 event.
Photo:
RNZ/Peter de Graaf
The next Te Matatini festival - the largest kapa haka competition in the world - will not be hosted in Te Tauihu o te Waka-a-Māui / Nelson.
Te Matatini Society Incorporated, which runs the biennial haka tournament, announced on Monday it was looking for expressions of interest to host the event in 2027.
Te Matatini board chair Tā Herewini Parata said the board made the decision on Friday amid concerns around the ability of smaller regions to accommodate a rapidly growing festival.
"As the festival continues to grow in size and significance, the planning, hosting and delivery of Te Matatini must respond to that growth.
"While this decision may be disappointing for many, we have had to be realistic and seriously reevaluate the risks of holding Te Matatini in its current format in smaller regions."
Parata said Te Matatini had completed a comprehensive evaluation and while Te Tauihu had worked hard to find solutions to deliver the festival at its current size, concerns remained around accommodation, transport and freight capabilities.
Te Tauihi was originally scheduled to host the event in 2025, but the Covid-19 pandemic
forced the cancellation of the 2021 festival
in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, pushing the schedule out by two years.
Sonny Alesana.
Photo:
Supplied
Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui Māori Cultural Council chairperson Sonny Alesana said while the decision was disappointing, they understood and remained hopeful Te Tauihu would have the opportunity to host in the future.
"Yes, we are disappointed, but we also understand the pressure Te Matatini is under, both in terms of its growth and the financial implications of that.
"We understand there remains widespread support, willingness, and commitment for Te Tauihu and the other smaller rohe to host in the future once Te Matatini has established a more sustainable format and framework for the event."
Alesana said the region was committed to continuing to work with Te Matatini to make sure Te Tauihu does have its time in the sun and smaller regions were not automatically disqualified from hosting.
"Te Tauihu can stand proud; we successfully hosted Te Mana Kuratahi in 2023 and the national secondary schools kapa haka festival, Te Huinga Whetū - Ngā Kapa Haka o Ngā Kura Tuarua o Aotearoa in 2024, welcoming a combined 35,000 manuhiri. Our work together with our iwi and our councils has strengthened our partnerships, our volunteer base and our kapa haka communities. For that, we are grateful.
"With the communities of Mohua, Te Tai o Aorere, Whakatū and Marlborough behind us, we are confident the region is up to the job of hosting Te Matatini in the future, and we look forward to continuing discussions to that end."
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter
curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
All Whites end Canadian Shield with a loss to Ukraine
Marko Stamenic of New Zealand heads the ball at goal. Photo: Kevin Sousa / The All Whites have been beaten 2-1 by Ukraine in their second game at the Canadian Shield four-nations tournament in Toronto. The result means the New Zealanders finish with a win and a loss after their first up 1-0 victory over Cōte d'Ivoire on Sunday. The 25th ranked Ukrainians completely dominated the first half and should have been ahead if it wasn't for a couple of fine saves from All Whites keeper Max Crocombe. Ukraine had the first scoring opportunity in the 15th minute when a header from a cross forced a finger-tip save from Crocombe who was again called upon in the 30th minute to keep the Ukrainians out. The New Zealanders were able to get back into the game after half time, but it was Ukraine who opened the scoring in the 54th minute when a strike from Oleksiy Hutsuliak just inside the penalty area beat Crocombe at the near post. New Zealand replied five minutes later when Marko Stamenic headed home from a corner. Liberato Cacace's corner was headed back across the goal by Michael Boxall allowing Stamenic to flick the ball into the goal. Arsenal midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko then put Ukraine in front in the 74th when he was left unmarked in the box and powered home a cross. All Whites goalkeeper Max Crocombe is forced into a save against Ukraine during the Canadian Shield men's football tournament in Toronto. Photo: Kevin Sousa / Coach Darren Bazeley made three changes from the side that beat Cōte d'Ivoire with Michael Boxall starting at right-back, Matt Garbett on the left wing and Ben Waine up front. Callum McGowatt was left out of the side while Bill Tuiloma and Kosta Barbarouses were on the bench along with Chris Wood. Ukraine made nine changes from the side that lost 4-2 to Canada in their opening game. Ukraine took a young side to the tournament, including a half a dozen players that play domestically in Ukraine, while the rest came from other parts of Europe. There are just two games each in the Canadian Shield tournament with the team with most points winning the title. Canada play Cōte d'Ivoire later on Wednesday.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Football live updates: All Whites v Ukraine
Sarpreet Singh celebrates after scoring a goal during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier OFC - New Zealand All Whites v Fiji at Sky Stadium, Wellington. Photo: Masanori Udagawa/Photosport Can the All Whites follow up their impressive win over Ivory Coast with another result against Ukraine? This will be a tough assignment, with 61 rankings separating the two sides, however the All Whites have won their last seven games in a row. Kick-off is at 9am NZT.
NZ Herald
5 hours ago
- NZ Herald
All Whites v Ukraine live updates, Canadian Shield
Live updates of the Canadian Shield match between the All Whites and Ukraine. All Whites 1 Ivory Coast 0 This was the statement result the All Whites have been waiting for. In their first match since qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, New Zealand have achieved one of their most impressive wins in recent years. They have beaten the Ivory Coast 1-0 in Toronto on Sunday, just the third victory over African opposition in their history. And this was a big scalp – against the current African champions – a team ranked inside the top 50 (41), well above the 86th-ranked All Whites. The decisive goal came in the 41st minute through a brilliant Elijah Just strike, a sumptuous finish after Marko Stamenic's threaded pass from a quick transition. It was a surprise – as Ivory Coast had looked much the more dangerous team – with New Zealand hanging on for long periods in the first half. Considering the opposition, it was one of the best performances against a non-Oceania team in Darren Bazeley's tenure, alongside draws with the Republic of Ireland and United States. And they did it without Chris Wood for most of the game, with the veteran Premier League striker restricted to a 10-minute cameo at the end. It's a huge boost, ahead of Wednesday's match (9am) against Ukraine. There are high hopes for this Ivory Coast team, seen as their best in a decade. But New Zealand are out to make their own mark in the countdown to next June. Such matches in neutral venues, at the end of long club seasons, can be difficult to assess, but there was a lot to like. The All Whites were defensively exceptional and well organised – Finn Surman was outstanding – while the offensive options improved in the second half. There were four changes from the starting XI that beat New Caledonia 3-0 in March. Bill Tuiloma replaced the injured Tim Payne at right back while Surman and Just were preferred ahead of Michael Boxall and Matt Garbett respectively. Kosta Barbarouses was the other inclusion, with Wood's workload being managed since the hip injury he suffered in March. To say New Zealand's opening goal came against the run of play would be an injustice to that football cliché. The All Whites had struggled to create much of note, while the African team had been dominant, carving out numerous opportunities. But a combination of tenacious defending and wasteful finishing kept the scoreline blank, until Just's delightful goal. It came after Joe Bell had won the ball near halfway, allowing Stamenic to run at a retreating defence. He produced a slide-rule pass for Just, with the Austrian-based winger managed an inch-perfect, angled finish just inside the far post. It was his eighth international goal and continued his rich run, scoring six in the last year. It was a shock to the Ivory Coast side and their large colourful support inside BMO Field. They had the run of play, with their pace, movement and angles, while New Zealand were mostly shadow-boxing, unable to get much going. They tried to keep to their structure but were being stretched down both flanks, with Nicolas Pepe and Evann Guessannd prominent. The All Whites were punished for some loose passing and Pepe had two early chances, with the second a volley just over the bar. Goalkeeper Max Crocombe had to make a strong save from Emmanuel Latte in the 15th minute, after a turnover from a New Zealand throw. Surman had to be alert to deny the same player, while another shot from Pepe went wide. Ivory Coast should have taken the lead after 36 minutes, after neat interplay worked Pepe into space. But the Villareal winger's shot was blocked by Surman, whose positioning was outstanding. The second half was a tighter affair. Ivory Coast continued to push, while the All Whites were more enterprising. From their first corner – in the 60th minute – Tuiloma could have extended the lead but was unable to connect at the far post. Soon afterwards, Bazeley made three changes, with Callan Elliott (for Tuiloma), Matt Garbett (Just) and Alex Rufer (Sarpreet Singh) introduced. Surman and Bindon were forced into more vital clearances. Wood and Michael Boxall came on in the 80th minute, as New Zealand occasionally threatened on the break. The finale was tense – as Ivory Coast threw the kitchen sink – with Simon Adingra's header hitting the post – but the All Whites hung on.
