Kei te tautoko a Te Puni Kōkiri i Te Matatini ki te Ao

Nō Te Puni Kōkiri te maringanui ki te tautoko ā-pūtea i te taiopenga kapa haka nunui o te ao, arā, ko Te Matatini ki te Ao. E hia kē nei ngā mano tāngata ka tae mai ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara ki te mātakitaki i ngā 'taumāhekeheke' o te ao kapa haka ā te 20–24 o Huitanguru.

"Kei te atamira o Te Matatini ki te Ao te kounga o te reo me ngā mahi kapa haka. Ka rangona hoki ngā piki me ngā heke o ngā take nui o te wā," te kī a Michelle Hippolite, arā, ko Te Toihautū o Te Puni Kōkiri.

"Ehara i te mea kei te atamira anake ngā kaupapa nui – he mea whakahirahira hoki te nui o ngā whānau e taetae mai ana ki te tautoko i ō rātou tāngata, ki te whakarongo ki te reo Māori, ki te tūtakitaki anō ki ngā hoa o mua," hei tāna.

"Ko te huihuinga o Te Matatini te tino tauira o te wawata nui o Te Puni Kōkiri, arā, ko te whānau taurikura."

Hāunga te huihuinga o Te Matatini ki te Ao, i te roanga o te tau, ka matua tautoko a Te Puni Kōkiri i ngā huihuinga kapa haka i ngā rohe katoa o te motu. Kei te takiwā o te $500,000 te nui o te pūtea i tukuna e Te Puni Kōkiri ki ngā akoranga kapa haka, ki ngā kaupapa ā-hapori, ki ngā whakataetae ā-rohe me ngā whakataetae ā-motu.

Kei te mihi a Mrs Hippolite ki ngā kaihaka katoa e tū ana ki te atamira o Te Matatini ki te Ao.

"Ko ngā kapa 46 e tū ana ki te atamira i tēnei wiki ngā kaikōkiri o te ao kapa haka Māori. Ko te tūmanako kia pai tēnei huihuinga whakahirahira ki ngā kaihaka, ki ō rātou whānau, ki te iwi whānui anō hoki.

"Kia kaha e ngā toa haka o te ao!"

Te Puni Kōkiri supports Te Matatini ki te Ao

Te Puni Kōkiri is a proud supporter and sponsor of the biggest kapa haka festival in the world – Te Matatini ki te Ao. Thousands are expected to attend the “Olympics” of kapa haka in Wellington, 20-24 February.

“At Te Matatini ki te Ao we witness te reo Māori and traditional performing arts of the highest standard on stage, we hear important messages that speak to the achievements and struggles of our time,” says Michelle Hippolite, Chief Executive of Te Puni Kōkiri.

“And it’s not just about what’s happening on stage, it’s the whānau that turn up in droves to support their loved ones, immerse themselves in a te reo Māori environment and connect with others they may not have seen for ages”, she says.

“Te Matatini demonstrates the vision of Te Puni Kōkiri which is thriving whānau.”

In addition to Te Matatini o te Ao, the Ministry of Māori Development supports whānau and communities in kapa haka events all year round and in all parts of the country. Around $500,000 goes towards Māori performing arts workshops, community events and local kapa haka competitions, both locally and nationally every year.

Mrs Hippolite wishes all of the performers taking the stage at Te Matatini ki te Ao the very best.

“The 46 groups taking the stage this week are leading the development of Māori performing arts. May the performers, their whānau and all those attending this special event enjoy Te Matatini ki te Ao.

“Kia kaha e ngā toa haka o te ao!”

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