Taking te reo to the stage!
Te Matatini Society Incorporated is the national organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand responsible for fostering, developing and protecting traditional Māori performing arts.
The organisation also delivers the biennial Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival, the largest celebration of traditional Māori performing arts excellence in the world. The festival encapsulates the power and beauty of Kapa Haka at the most elite level as groups from Aotearoa and Australia compete for the coveted title of National Champion.
Kapa haka is vital for preserving and reviving Māori culture, language, and traditions. It promotes learning and understanding of Te Ao Māori, its traditional practices and values, and plays a key role in revitalising te reo Māori.
Kapa haka fosters a sense of identity and ensures that our rich cultural heritage is passed down to future generations. Te Matatini Society Incorporated strives to enable all audiences from kohanga to kaumatua to have authentic kapa haka experiences as it contributes positively to the overall health and social wellbeing of whānau.
Kapa haka promotes physical and mental well-being. The physical activity involved in kapa haka practice and performance improves fitness, while the social connections and cultural pride enhance mental health and emotional resilience.
“Kapa haka is an inter-generational passion and is for everyone who wants to get involved. Kaumātua, pakeke, tamariki and mokopuna can use kapa haka as a vehicle to learn te reo and tikanga Māori, and connect whānau and their community around them,” says Carl Ross Te Manahautū | Chief Executive Te Matatini Society Incorporated.
Te Matatini sponsored the Tū Rangatira award for Ngā Tohu Reo Māori 2024 to honour the work of the people and projects that share their vision and values in the pursuit of excellence for Māori.