This month our organisation will celebrate its 20-year anniversary as Te Matatini Society Incorporated.
On 9 November 2004, the name of our organisation changed from the Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Society Incorporated to Te Matatini Society Incorporated.
Over these two decades, but more recently, Kapa Haka has continued to grow and adapt and push the creative and innovative boundaries while still holding true to traditional Māori performing arts. Te Matatini Society Incorporated has also adapted to ensure Kapa Haka can continue to flourish.
“In 2022 we celebrated 50 years of Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival,” says Carl Ross, Te Manahautū | Chief Executive. “This would not have been possible if not for the many kapa haka performers, influential Māori leaders, te reo and kapa haka experts, and all supporting organisations and partners that committed their passion and energy to growing, developing and protecting kapa haka.”
Tā Herewini Parata, Heamana | Chairman of Te Matatini said, “kapa haka is a powerful expression of who we are as Māori” and that “the story of Te Matatini is one of dedication, resilience and relationships.”
“We, Te Matatini Incorporated Society, are honoured and humbled to be the current organisation supporting te ao kapa haka and Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival,” says Carl.
A bit of history
1970: The Māori Purposes Fund Board (MPFB) gave $5,000 to fund the first festival. Sir Duncan McIntyre was MPFB Chair and donated the trophy for the national festival’s overall winner.
1972: The first festival was held in Rotorua and was called the New Zealand Polynesian Festival. Waihīrere Māori Club won the competition.
1972: The New Zealand Polynesian Festival National Committee was established. Sir Kingi Ihaka was Chair from 1972 until 1983, and then from 1990 to 1993.
1983: The festival was renamed the Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Festival and teams from other Pacific Island nations were no longer eligible to compete.
1984: Te Kuru-o-te-Marama Waaka was Chair from 1983 to 1990.
1990: Sir Kingi Ihaka was Chair from 1990 to 1993.
1993: Tā Tīmoti Kāretu was Chair from 1993 to 2004.
1996: The Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Festival Committee was established as an incorporated society.
2004: The festival was renamed Te Matatini, "many faces". The name reflects the diversity of the competitors and their audience.
2004: The name of our organisation changed from the Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Society Incorporated to Te Matatini Society Incorporated
2004: Tama Huata was Chair from 2004 to 2008.
2008: Selwyn Parata was appointed Chair and still holds the position.
2010: Te Matatini became an international competition again when Manawa Mai Tawhiti from Perth, Western Australia participated.
2022: Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival celebrates 50 years
2022: Te Matatini Society Incorporated baseline funding increased from $1.94 million to $2.94 million.
2023: A further $17 million each year for two years was provided from Budget 2023 to implement a regional Kapa Haka development programme.
2025: Biggest Te Matatini National Festival will be held 25 February – 1 March 2025 in Ngāmotu | New Plymouth, comprising 55 teams over five days of competition.
2025: From 1 July 2025, our baseline funding will increase to $48.7 million over the next three years, which is approximately $19 million each year.
Te Pītau Whakarei, Te Matatini Society Incorporated’s 10-year strategic plan (2017 – 2027), outlines the goals that we have in creating a significant shift for the organisation from one that produces a biennial national Kapa Haka festival, into one that services and recognises the health and wellbeing of te ao Māori through the vehicle Kapa Haka.
The future prosperity of Kapa Haka and Māori wellbeing is dependent on sustained, intergenerational interest and participation. The growth of our kaupapa and success of Te Matatini is directly tied to the development of our rohe.
Te Matatini is now in a position to move beyond the biennial national festival by providing equitable and ongoing resourcing to embed our rohe development model. We will continue to actively broaden our scope of delivery to support and recognise the contribution of Kapa Haka in the community to strengthen the positive contributions Kapa Haka makes to our diverse communities.
Kapa Haka is also an important part of differentiating Aotearoa New Zealand internationally and making strong connections globally.
On overseas trade and diplomacy missions, for example, Kapa Haka helps to build and strengthen relationships with other countries. Te Matatini will continue to showcase Kapa Haka excellence to the world by supporting international tours and visits through our International Touring Fund.
Our aim is for Te Matatini to become an inclusive and integral part of whānau, hapū, iwi and wider New Zealand society.
‘Ko au Te Matatini, Ko Te Matatini ko au’