NGĀ HUA A TE MATATINI
THE BENEFITS OF KAPA HAKA TO AOTEAROA WEBINAR
20 June 2022
“Mana motuhake ki te kāinga. Matatū, Mataora, Matatini ki te ao.”
Research reports from leading Māori academics of Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga - The University of Auckland, Te Wānanga o Raukawa and Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, confirm the benefits of kapa haka to the development and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
Ngā Hua a Te Matatini: The Benefits of Te Matatini was commissioned by Te Matatini Society Incorporated and Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori in 2019, and is a collection of four evidence-based reports that focuses on four areas of the impact that kapa haka makes to the Māori health index, the economy of Aotearoa, the educational success of students who actively participate in kapa haka and the revitalisation of te reo Māori.
Te Wānanga o Raukawa reported that the material contribution of kapa haka to Māori health and wellbeing, in all of its dimensions—physical, spiritual, mental and social, was significant. It goes on to say that a substantial increase in Crown support would enable kapa haka participants and supporters to build on the extraordinary work that is already being done, generating further significant benefits which will extend well beyond Māori communities.
“Kapa haka is inclusive and an integral part of the values and norms that govern Māori society. The positive contributions that kapa haka makes to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of our diverse communities are many,” says Carl Ross, Te Manahautū a Te Matatini.
Ngā Hua a Te Matatini research reports will be released and available to the public on Wednesday 6 July, at 5 AM on the Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga website through a link on our Te Matatini homepage: https://tematatini.co.nz/
To mark the release of the reports, Te Matatini and Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga are hosting a same-day webinar with researchers from 6 pm – 7 pm. To register, visit: https://auckland.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nAzf2a7-Tt2-yyNLYg_B2g
ENDS
EDITOR’S NOTES
Kapa haka refers to traditional Māori dances and songs that reflect identity, culture, stories and history. Kapa haka is seen as a medium for fostering a richer, more cohesive and inclusive society in Aotearoa.
Te Matatini is an incorporated society, governed by a National Board of 14 members. Each member represents the rohe membership of Te Matatini, who provides Kapa Haka leadership at a regional level across Aotearoa and Te Whenua Moemoeā. Te Matatini represents the many faces of excellence in Māori performing arts in Aotearoa and beyond.
MEDIA CONTACT
Janay Tauri
021 228 8322