The then existing Maori Purposes Fund Board decided that: A committee be appointed to consider and make recommendation on a proposal that the Board sponsor and grant prizes for National Maori Cultural competition.

Sir Kingi Ihaka estab­lished and chaired a Polynesian Festival Committee (PFC) as a sub-committee of the MPFB (MPFB was chaired by Jock McEwen, Secretary of the Department of Maori and Pacific Island Affairs). The committee was committed to promote cultural aspects of performance, rather than performance for tourist appeal.

From 1983 the inaugural Festival was known as a Māori-only competition by the name of the Aotearoa Māori Festival of Arts.

In 2004, we became known as Te Matatini Society Incorporated. Our name, bestowed upon us by Professor Wharehuia Milroy, acknowledges the many faces who bring life into Kapa Haka. "Māori Performing Arts brings together people of all ages, all backgrounds, all beliefs, Māori and non-Māori alike, participants and observers. When I look I see many faces, young and old" – Professor Wharehuia Milroy

Te Matatini successfully secure $34.8 million over two years in equitable funding to better support Kapa Haka in Aotearoa.

A National Development Conference made TWO recommendations to Government about the way in which Māori performing arts should be organised. These recommendations were adopted and became the responsibility of the Tourist and Publicity Department, the Maori and Pacific Island Affairs Department and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.

11-12 MARCH 1972 The first Festival was held at Rotowhio, Rotorua. 17 Māori groups of which 13 were competitive performed indoors at the Rotorua Sports Dome where 5000 spectators gathered to celebrate the Festival – The Polynesian Festival Cabinet approved the PFC as the official body to advise Government on the selection of Māori groups to represent New Zealand nationally and overseas.

The Festival was again renamed to become known as the Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Festival.

The Festival returned to Wellington, 21 years since the last Festival was hosted in the Capital. The 4 day festival saw 42,000 attendees and 1.35M online views

APRIL 1970 The Polynesian Entertainment sub-committee passed three resolutions for sub­mission to the Tourism Development Council. The submissions were: 1.That this committee support the proposal that there is the need for a permanent entertainment group in Rotorua under the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. 2.That the Minister of Maori & Island Affairs be recommended to set up a committee to inaugurate annual Polynesian Festivals on a regional and national basis. It is recommended that in the first place such a committee be on the same representative basis as the sub-committee set up by the National Development Council to study this question. 3.That the national organisation eventually set up to organise these festi­vals be recognised by government as the body to advise government on the selection of Maori entertainment groups to represent New Zealand overseas. OCTOBER 1970 The Maori Purposes Fund Board (MPFB) granted $5,000 to fund the very first 1972 Festival and specifically stated that the money should be used to 'promote a national festival of Maori and Polynesian singing and dancing' (ATMPAS archives).

Auckland was the last destination before Kapa Haka outgrew the Polynesian Festival in 1981.

Te Matatini grew in size and strength through the 1980s and 1990s, right through to the 2002 National Festival.

After a four year hiatus, Te Matatini Herenga Waka Herenga Tangata National Kapa Haka Festival was held at Ngā Ana Wai, Eden Park in Tāmaki Makaurau. The festival was a huge success.