Te Matatini is the biggest kapa haka festival in the Māori calendar, held over four days at Ngā Ana Wai Eden Park. This is one of the most highly anticipated events for performers, their whānau, and the mass of passionate kapa haka fans throughout the world. Kapa haka is the primary art form through which Māori can access and express their cultural identity in te reo Māori, sharing their unique na
rratives through the beauty and power of waiata and dance. Kapa haka groups worldwide look forward to Te Matatini as the pinnacle event to showcase the best of the best. Te Matatini turned 50 in 2022, so the 2023 festival also celebrates this incredible milestone. Competition among the 48 Aotearoa-based and two Australian-based rōpū (teams) will be fierce and passionate. It will be the culmination of years of hard work, especially poignant due to Covid restrictions delaying the festival twice. The programme has different kapa haka teams performing on each day, with finalists from each day competing for the winner's crown on the final day. It is a whānau-friendly, smoke and alcohol-free festival, and everyone is welcome - kapa haka super fans and supporters - and those who simply want to experience this incredible, vibrant cultural experience for the first time. The festival includes a vibrant cultural market with kai (food), drinks, and other items for sale - and ticket holders can come and go during the day, depending on which teams they want to support. A ticket to Te Matatini Herenga Waka Herenga Tangata Festival 2023 will allow free travel on public trains and buses in and around the Auckland City area. Free travel will run daily from 2 hours before the event start time until the end of Auckland Transport's scheduled services. Please refer to the AT website's special events page for up-to-date travel information in the lead-up to and day of the event.
