Highlights And Live Finals On Mäori Television!

Te Matatini 2009 - Highlights And Live Finals On Mäori Television!

Te Matatini 2009 - the world's largest festival of Maori performing arts, featuring the best kapa haka performers from Aotearoa and beyond - kicks off this week, and Maori Television will be there to capture the best of the action.

TE MATATINI 2009 HIGHLIGHTS will screen on Maori Television on Friday and Saturday from 9.00 PM until 11.00 PM. TE MATATINI 2009 LIVE FINALS will screen on Sunday from 8.30 AM to 4.00 PM.

The national kapa haka competition runs every two years, and will this year be held at Baypark, Tauranga.

Some 30,000 people are expected to attend the four-day event, to see 36 teams from 13 regions - including Australia - compete for the national title.

The teams have already been through a regional selection round, and already represent the cream of the crop in their respective rohe.
It has been tough to get this far, but the business end of the competition is only just beginning. Now each team must enter one of three pools - but only the top three of each pool can advance through to the finals. After the last performance on Saturday February 21, the judges' marks will determine the top nine finalists who will come back one more time on Sunday to decide the supreme 2009 winner.
Current title holders, Whangara Mai Tawhiti are back again this time - but can they come up trumps again?

The competition began in Rotowhio, Rotorua in 1972, and since then has gone on to become the premier cultural festival in Maoridom. Te Matatini is often credited as contributing to the rise of inter-regional, inter-iwi and inter-marae pride; the development of school competitions throughout the country; a greater awareness of how to excel in different aspects of performance, and the development of leaders, both on and off the stage.

The main focus will be on the performances, but support events include an education day, to allow primary and intermediate school-aged children to take part in kapa haka workshops, and a visual art exhibition.

Te Matatini 2009 promises to be bigger and better than ever. Join in the fun with Maori Television's coverage, TE MATATINI 2009 HIGHLIGHTS 2009, Friday and Saturday from 9.00 PM and TE MATATINI 2009 LIVE FINALS, Sunday from 8.30 AM.

ends

© Scoop Media