Matariki Festival event broadcast to the world

Around 300 senior Māori performing artists will get to perform in front of a worldwide audience on the weekend of 11 and 12 July 2009. Kaumātua Kapa Haka is one of the highlights of Te Papa’s Matariki Festival, and for the first time, it will be webcast live online at www.tepapa.govt.nz/kapahaka using the power of TelstraClear’s Next IP Network.

Te Ropu Tahiwi (Wellington) performing at Kaumatua Kapa Haka at Te Papa in 2008:  Photo courtesy: Te Papa Tongarewa – Museum of New Zealand

Events Producer Mere Boynton says the webcast gives everyone with broadband access the chance to enjoy this rare occasion. 

“Friends and whānau, from the comfort of their own home, will be able to check out their kuia or koro at the same time as they perform at Te Papa in Wellington, whether they are in Wanganui or Washington D.C. It’s wonderful that we are able to bring the talents of our fabulous kaumātua to a worldwide audience.
 

Many of the performers gathering at Te Papa for Kaumātua Kapa Haka have been learning Māori performing arts since they were young children and the oldest member amongst the groups is 93 years old.
 
Mere says “These elders will take you on a journey back in time performing well-known waiata by famous composers of their era, such as Sir Apirana Ngata and Tuini Ngawai, who created many of the classic songs we sing today.”
 
Eight groups from Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Taranaki, and Wellington will perform at Te Papa on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July 2009.

For more details go to www.tepapa.govt.nz/kapahaka. Kaumātua Kapa Haka is proudly supported by TelstraClear and New Zealand Post.