There has been growth in Kapa Haka participation across Te Whenua Moemoeā | Australia leading to more teams competing to qualify for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025.
“In our 2023-2024 Annual Report, Te Whenua Moemoeā rohe report explains that growth in Kapa Haka has occurred in each state and territory,” says Carl Ross, Te Matatini Manahautū | Chief Executive.
In 2020, seven groups competed to qualify for Te Matatini. When Te Whenua Moemoeā held its 9th qualifying regional Kapa Haka festival in April 2024, at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, nine groups took to the stage. Five of the groups were new - one from Victoria, two from New South Wales, and two from Queensland. Five of the groups included young kaihaka aged only 14 years.
New and emerging senior, rangatahi and tamariki Kapa Haka groups have been established, with a 15% increase in all age groups and a rise in youth participation.
The rohe report reveals that states and territories have launched community programmes to increase engagement with Māori culture, workshops in schools and cultural festivals, promotion of te reo Māori, mau-rākau, development of cultural knowledges, performance skills, tikanga, whaikōrero, karanga, karakia tawhito, harakeke, korowai and wānanga.
“Partnerships and collaborations between state and federal agencies and small sponsorships assisted with the qualifying regional festival. States and territories are also engaging with local cultural organisations, schools, and local funding agencies to enhance kapa haka outreach and impact.”
Patron Kiingi Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII and his wife Maukau Ariki Te Atawhai, and other dignitaries including Australian State and Federal members of parliament, ministers and senators, attended Te Whenua Moemoeā qualifying regional kapa haka festival earlier this year.
Nine groups (two from Victoria, four from New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one from Western Australia) comprising 337 kaihaka, performed in front of 10,000 people over two days.
Three teams (pictured left to right) qualified to represent their state and Te Whenua Moemoeā at Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga Festival 2025:
Manawa Mai Tawhiti (Western Australia)
Te Kapa Haka o Te Hau Tawhiti (Queensland)
Te Atawhai Puumanawa (Victoria).
