February was spent preparing to host top Waikato-Tainui rōpū, Mōtai Tangata Rau of Ngāti Raukawa.

Many thanks to Elizabeth Cunningham, Linda Grennell, Manaia Cunningham and Doug Timothy, for all their mahi in the lead-up to the arrival of our manuhiri.

On Monday 2 March, our kokoru came alive to the sound of waiata, haka and te reo as over 70 members of the rōpū and their kaitautoko and kaumātua arrived for Te Matatini. This was the first stand for Mōtai Tangata Rau at Te Matatini, who unfortunately missed out on a “top 9” by just one point. However, they did place 10th overall, winning the “Mobil Oil Te Reo Excellence” trophy and placing second in the whakaeke, haka and whakawātea. [Read more…]

The Waitaha Cultural Council, Christchurch City Council and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu thanks everyone involved in making Te Matatini 2015 a sell-out event.

“It has been a complete and utter pleasure and an honour to host the nation in Ōtautahi for Te Matatini,” says Waitaha Cultural Council chair, Ranui Ngarimu. [Read more…]

Preparations for Te Matatini are in full swing with whānau around the motu practicing hard, as they prepare the final touches for what will be the most impressive celebration of Māori performing arts the South has ever seen.

A reminder whānau, there is still time buy your tickets on-line: www.tematatini.co.nz  but note that fanzone tickets have sold out and gate sales will cost you more. So don’t miss out.

Visit www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz and catch the latest instalment of our five-episode web series celebrating Ngāi Tahu kapa haka and documenting the journey to Te Matatini 2015. [Read more…]

Attention whānau – please make sure you make the most of the early bird Te Matatini 2015 ticket prices – this special offer ends midnight 31 December.

At this price tickets are affordable and will make awesome Christmas presents. You can save up to 50 per cent on gate sale prices; we don’t want you to be disappointed.

From 1 January the standard Te Matatini online ticket prices kick in and if you choose to turn up on-the-day gate sale tickets will cost more. [Read more…]

As part of the build-up to Te Matatini 2015, the office is producing a five-episode web series, which you will be able to watch on www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz.

The series is designed to document the journey to Te Matatini 2015 and celebrate Ngāi Tahu kapa haka.
 
Episode one:  What is Te Matatini? We will be talking with the main players from the Te Matatini executive, The Waitaha Cultural Council and the 2015 Festival governance group – Te Pātuitanga. [Read more…]

Ka topa taku manu i ruka Aoraki e karaka atu ana he mihi, he owha ki kā aroaro mauka huri noa i te motu. Nō reira, e kā manu korihi, e kā manu korokī, tēnā koutou katoa.

Liz Kereru and Piri Sciascia on behalf of Ngāi Tūāhuriri are calling a practice in preparation for the Te Matatini 2015 pōwhiri.

The details of the practice are:

  • Date: Saturday, 24 January
  • Start time: 10am
  • Venue: Tuahiwi Marae.

[Read more…]

Christmas is on its way whānau and what better gift to give than Te Matatini 2015 Festival tickets? To make the most of the savings on offer, it’s important to purchase your early bird tickets soon as the offer ends at midnight on 31 December.

From 1 January 2015, the standard Te Matatini on-line ticket prices will kick in and if you choose to turn up on the day, gate sale tickets will cost more again. [Read more…]

At some point all of us struggle with our health – we eat the wrong foods, don’t exercise enough, don’t get our regular check-ups when we should – and so the list goes on. Do you want to do something about that?

At Te Matatini 2015, you will have the opportunity to catch up with a host of health professionals led by Gail McLauchlan, from Community and Public Health. We will create a hauora village that is active, positive and empowering, where you won’t feel whakamā about asking for help and the health professionals will provide their service to you for free. [Read more…]

At some point all of us struggle with our health – we eat the wrong foods, don’t exercise enough, don’t get our regular check-ups when we should – and so the list goes on. Do you want to do something about that?

At Te Matatini 2015, you will have the opportunity to catch up with a host of health professionals led by Gail McLauchlan, from Community and Public Health. [Read more…]

Interested in having a stall in the Te Matatini Marketplace at Te Matatini 2015?

Then we want to hear from you.

Hosted by the Waitaha Cultural Council, Te Matatini Festival will be held in the Special Events Arena, North Hagley Park Christchurch 4-8 March, 2015. This will be the world’s largest celebration of Māori performing arts, supported by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Christchurch City Council.

We are expecting more than 30,000 festival goers and at least 10,000 hungry mouths will be descending on North Hagley Park each day.

Te Matatini Festival 2015 will be a whānau-friendly, smoke-free, alcohol and drug free event. Instead of hot dogs and fizzy drink, only the best of southern kai and international cuisine will be on offer. [Read more…]

Rehua Marae was packed out on Wednesday, 11 June, for the much-anticipated Te Matatini 2015 National Kapa Haka Festival live pool draw for team performances.

Waitaha Cultural Council chair Ranui Ngarimu says it was very exciting to be announcing the pool and order of performance for the 45 teams.

“Waitaha Cultural Council is proud to be hosting Te Matatini Festival 2015, the world’s largest celebration of Māori performing arts, with the support of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Christchurch City Council. Te Matatini will awaken the pride of all iwi in the south – it will be our chance to say thank you for the support after the earthquakes.” [Read more…]