Maori Television Brings National Kapa Haka Festival to the United States of America

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Jan 30, 2017, 19:20 ET

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Maori Television will be delivering their furthest reaching broadcast yet, with the unblocked internet broadcast of New Zealand's National Kapa Haka festival, Te Matatini 2017 available to American and Australian audiences next month.

Broadcasting live from Hawkes Bay Sports Park, Hastings, Maori Television will be showcasing New Zealand's most prestigious Maori performing arts event, commencing broadcast through www.maoritelevision.com from Thursday 23rd February and continuing on to the finals on Sunday 26th February (NZT).

Anchored by Kapa Haka experts Matai Smith, Chey Milne and Kahurangi Maxwell, the 11 hour daily broadcast will provide coverage of all performances from all ropu (groups), with additional digital functionality available for those who register to the website.

For others who prefer their content bite sized, Luke Bird, Maori Television presenter and ex performer for Northland's Hatea Kapa Haka - will be amongst the action on the ground delivering regular updates via Snapchat throughout the festival. Maori Television's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter will also be providing more up close and behind-the-scenes haka than you can handle.

Best known as the opening act to the seasonal drama that is an All Blacks Rugby game, the haka is just one part of this unique collective art form known as kapa haka – the origins of which date back to pre-European times. Containing the elements of haka, Maori weaponry, poi and song, kapa haka is an integral part of the lives of many Maori, with the competition now seen as a crucial support in maintaining history and knowledge of Maori culture both within New Zealand and throughout world, particularly in Australia where over 130,000 Maori now reside.

Thousands of Kapa Haka performers, tutors and composers, young and old, bring kapa haka to life every day - at home and on the marae, in schools and communities and at regional, national and international events. Te Matatini showcases this impassioned dedication from New Zealand's finest performing artists, drawing in over 1,800 elite competitors and 35,000 festival goers from all over the New Zealand and Australia to attend this biennial event. With a record 47 teams registered for the Hastings competition, including Australian entrants Nga Manu Waiata, 2017 promises to bring the biggest and best Te Matatini to date.

BROADCAST DETAILS

Preliminary competition - Thursday 23rd – Saturday 25th February – 8.30am – 7.30pm NZT

Te Matatini Final - Sunday 26 February – 8.30am – 4.30pm NZT

Digital broadcast at www.maoritelevision.com

Coverage can be viewed across New Zealand, Australia and the United States of America.

For further information on the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival - www.tematatini.co.nz

*ENDS*