‘No Clue’: Taranaki Yet To See Te Matatini Bounty, Councillor Says

Tuesday, 28 January 2025, 9:34 pm
Article: Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting

Taranaki hasn’t yet grasped the opportunity of the looming Te Matatini national kapa haka festival, says a South Taranaki councillor.

Efforts to spread the word haven’t hit home for many small businesses and communities, says South Taranaki District Council’s Te Tai Tonga councillor Tuteri Rangihaeata.

“Taranaki has got no clue, especially the community outside of Māoridom in Taranaki.

“They've got no clue on how big this beast is, this beautiful beast called Te Matatini.”

Organisers expect some 40,000 visitors at New Plymouth’s Bowl of Brooklands over the five days of Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga from February 25 to March 1.

They predict 70,000 gate entries by 55 teams, supporters and spectators – 10,000 for the first three qualifying days rising to 20,000 on Friday and for the finals on Saturday.

Rangihaeata praised Ngā Iwi o Taranaki (which serves the collective iwi of Taranaki) and Te Kāhui Maunga Society (the regional Te Matatini organisation) for their work promoting the festival.

“It's been a real Taranaki-driven kaupapa. Everyone's excited but I don't believe, especially in South Taranaki, that we know what's coming – the scale of it.”

Some businesspeople questioned him about the benefits.

“I'm just like, wow. Every hotel – not only in South Taranaki, but in all Taranaki plus its neighbouring communities – is gone, it's booked out. Airbnbs have gone from $300 a night to $3,000 a night.”

Rangihaeata’s company Waha provides Māori marketing, branding and digital content and he said businesses should prepare for a Māori boom.

“If little dairies don't know yet: Stock up.

“All it takes is one whānau – three, maybe four cars. They stop at a dairy and you're sold out, because they're going to be buying for the rest of the day. You know, lollies, drinks, gone.”

“Then when the locals walk in: ‘Where’s all the pies, where’s all the Andersons?’ And it’ll be ‘Yeah nah, they’re gone’.

Rangihaeata said some three-dozen marae in South Taranaki are booked, with groups from 40-strong to as many as 100.

“If a bus stops, it'll clean out a Four Square. Yeah, all the hot cabinets anyway.”

And if three or four busses stop at a supermarket, locals best expect delays, he said.

Te Kāhui Maunga Society believed $22 million was spent in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland during the last festival in 2023.

Business-readiness workshops across Taranaki have highlighted the scale of the event, especially as it’s sandwiched between the US car showcase Americana and the Womad Aotearoa festival.

Te Kāhui Maunga Society chairperson Elijah Pue said the likes of Venture Taranaki, He Toronga Pakihi ki Taranaki, hospitality networks, and the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce have been spreading the word.

“Leading up to the festival you won’t be able to miss the promotions and buzz.”

He said the power and beauty of elite-level kapa haka will bring thousands of supporters who’ll be shopping, dining, visiting attractions and exploring the Kāhui Maunga rohe.

Organisers had worked with iwi, hapū, local kapa haka and marae to accommodate teams, with many people provided tikanga expertise and hosting experience to manaaki manuhiri [properly look after guests] and stage the festival.

Local authorities also provided practice spaces, free bus rides for ticket holders and festival promotions.

“This is a pivotal [opportunity] for local businesses and our communities.

“We encourage business to be open, stock-up, staff-up, and extend the manaakitanga, the hospitality we’re so well known for.

“We encourage everyone to come and see first-hand the passion, athleticism, beauty and positivity kapa haka brings.

“Te Matatini is a celebration of all of us who call Aotearoa home: it’s a stunning example of kotahitanga at a time when the political climate calls for unity most.”

New Plymouth District Councillor Dinnie Moeahu said Māori were definitely prepared.

“One thing that I love about Taranaki is that we know how to host, we know how to send our korowai of aroha and I think every single group, every single visitor, manuhiri is going to feel that magic when they come here.”

Moeahu confirmed councils and business networks were pushing for people to be prepared but said it was difficult to comprehend the opportunity “unless you have been to Te Matatini”.

“Supply lines – you're going to have delays, so we want to be sure that people are as equipped, supermarkets are equipped, as much as they can be.

“Almost a doubling of Ngāmotu district's population will descend on Taranaki, and you're going to have outlets that will struggle to keep up.

“You've got an event on steroids that has an economic return three to four times more than Womad.”

Tickets to Te Matatini are on sale at ticketspace and it’ll be livestreamed on TVNZ and Whakaata Māori with an audio broadcast by Te Korimako o Taranaki on 94.8 FM.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ on Air

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