The Waitaha and Aotea Senior kapa haka regionals have been cancelled this year, following an option by Te Matatini to leave the decision to the remaining regional groups to determine who their representative teams will be at next year's nationals.
Chey Milne from Arataua Media and who hosts Kapa Haka Yarns on Facebook says there are some positive and negative benefits about cancelling regional events.
Te Tai Tokerau have named their Matatini representatives including two groups who will grace the national stage for the very first time.
Puanga Rua, a newly-established kapa of Te Taitokerau, is unhappy with the selection process for the final groups set to represent the region next year at Te Matatini.
Te Reanga Morehu o Ratana, Ngā Purapura o te Taihauāuru, Te Matapihi and Aotea Ūtanganui will represent Aotea rohe at Te Matatini Herenga Waka Herenga Tāngata in 2021.
Te Matatini's national board intends consulting with key stakeholders about how to proceed with next year's festival in light of the "unprecedented circumstances" surrounding the impact of Covid-19, a board media release this afternoon says.
Tohunga tā moko and kapa haka exponent Derek Lardelli (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Konohi, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Kaipoho) is made a Knight Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) for services to Māori art in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
One of Sir Derek Lardelli's kapa haka protégés says that his strength is looking to the future.
COVID-19 emergency measures have sent many members of London-based kapa haka Ngāti Rānana home. Ngāti Rānana kaihaka Luke and Roimata Classen, practice law in London and are navigating through hard times.
The next national senior kapa haka competition, Te Matatini Herenga Waka Herenga Tāngata, that was set for February 2021 may go ahead in Level 1.
The festival had been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Should Te Matatini 2021 be postponed?
To celebrate Matariki, Auckland Council has brought together some of Tāmaki Makaurau's finest haka teams and local Māori businesses.
Te Matatini National Board today said there were too many risks for the Te Matatini National Championships to go ahead in February.
Te Matatini Herenga Waka, Herenga Tāngata will be held in 2022.
The Tainui Waka Kapa Haka Festival will go ahead at the end of August.
More time to practise, says Reikura Kahi.
The decision to postpone Te Matatini to 2022 was a sad one to for the national board to make.
Ohinemataroa ki Ruatāhuna were prepping for their first stand at Te Matatini Herenga Waka, Herenga Tāngata.
One of Whakatōhea's prominent voices on the kapa haka stage is calling for fellow performers across Mataatua to enrol to vote in this year's election.
