Frequently Asked Questions

1. Event Overview

1.1 What is the event?
The Tainui Waka Kapa Haka Festival is the premier Maori Arts & Cultural event for the Tainui Waka region.

1.2 What is the Tainui Waka region?
The "Tainui Waka" region refers to the traditional geographic boundaries of Iwi (Tribes) affiliated to the ancestral canoe named "Tainui" (i.e. Waikato, Maniapoto, Raukawa and Hauraki Iwi) and encompasses the Franklin, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Otorohanga, South Waikato, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato, Waipa and Waitomo Districts as well as Hamilton City and parts of South Auckland.

1.3 What will the event comprise of?
• Senior Traditional Māori Performing Arts (Kapa Haka) competition
• Headline Māori Bands & Guest Entertainers
• Indigenous Marketplace selling Māori Arts, Crafts & Clothing
• Food Stalls offering indigenous foods & other local delicacies
• Mau Rākau (Māori Martial Arts) Displays
• Contemporary Māori Performing Arts & Dance
• Māori Visual Art Exhibitions / Displays
• Tā Moko (Māori Tattooing)
• Rāranga (Māori Weaving)
• ...and more

1.4 How often is this event held?
This is a biennial event (i.e. held only once every two years).

1.5 When is the event being held?
Sunday 14th February 2010.

1.6 What time will the event start?
The event will commence at 8.30am with a whakatau (formal welcome). The first kapa haka group performance will start at 9.00am. The event will finish around 7.45pm with entertainment from headline bands and guest artists. 

2. Venue

2.1 Where is the event being held?
Mystery Creek Events Centre, 125 Mystery Creek Road, Hamilton

3. Tickets

3.1 How much are the ticket prices?
Ticket prices are as follows: Adult (15 years +) = $10, Child (5 to 14 years) = $5. Entry is free for children under 5 years of age.

3.2 When will tickets be available for purchase?
Tickets are  now available at selected outlets throughout the region (refer Ticket Section)

3.3 Where can I purchase a ticket?
Tickets are  now available at selected outlets throughout the region (refer Ticket Section)

3.4 Will there be door sales on the day?
Door sales will be available on the day of the event however we kindly request your support to purchase tickets prior to the event from our supporting ticket outlets.

4. Stalls

4.1 What type of stalls will be at the event?
A wide variety of high quality Māori food, art, craft, clothing & promotional stalls will be present at the event.

4.2 What are the stall site prices?
Indicative stall site fees are as follows:
• Individual Artist $75.00
• Small Business $100.00
• Community Group Food Stall $125.00
• Commercial Food Stall $250.00
• Corporate / Government $500.00
Please email aotearoa.experience "at" ihug.co.nz for a Stall Concession Holder - Registration of Interest Form or contact Craig Muntz on 027 346-6512 for further information.

5. Kapa Haka 101

6.1 What is Kapa Haka?
"Kapa" means "group" and "Haka" means "dance". "Kapa Haka" therefore refers to the "Traditional Māori Performing Arts".

6.2 What do the Kapa Haka performances consist of?
Each Kapa Haka group will perform seven different items with a maximum total performance time of 30 minutes per group.

6.3 How are the kapa haka performances judged?
Each kapa haka group will be judged on six main performance genres: 
Whakaeke (Group Entrance)

  • Mōteatea (Traditional Chant)
  • Poi (mainly performed by Women)
  • Waiata ā Ringa (Action Song)
  • Haka (performed by men) 
  • Whakawātea (Group Exit)
  • Te Reo (Written & Spoken Language)

Awards are also awarded for the following performance categories:

  • Waiata Tira (Best Choral Item
  • Kākahu (Best Clothing)
  • Kaitātaki Tane (Best Male Leader)
  • Kaitātaki Wahine (Best Female Leader)
  • Originality (Best Original Item)
  • Rohe Trophies (Best Waikato, Maniapoto, Raukawa, Hauraki rōpÅ«)
  • Whaikorero
  • Karanga
  • Titonga Hou (Originality)
  • Nga Taonga a Tu (Weaponry)
  • Best New Group

 6.4 What are the Kapa Haka Groups Competing For?
Kapa Haka Groups will be competing for various regional titles and for the honor of representing Tainui Waka at the Te Matatini National Festival to be held 2011.

6.5 Who are the judges at the event?
Kapa Haka groups will be judged by an expert panel of 22 judges who have been selected by the respective kapa haka groups. Each individual judge will have specialist experience in one or more of the kapa haka performance genres.

7. Spectators

7.1 Who can attend?
The entire community is warmly invited to attend this event to experience this unique Showcase of Māori arts and culture from the Tainui Waka region.

7.2 How many people are expected to attend the event?
Approximately 6,000 to 7,000 people are expected to attend the event.

8. Event Organisers 

8.1 Who is responsible for staging the event?
The event is being staged by the Tainui Waka Cultural Trust, a Charitable Trust whose aim is to "Promote and support participation and excellence in Traditional Māori Performing Arts & associated art forms". Aotearoa Experience Ltd is providing Event Management.

8.2 Media Enquiries
For media accreditation enquiries please email aotearoa.experience "at" ihug.co.nz or contact Craig Muntz on 027 346-6512

8.3 Artist Enquiries
Artists wishing to participate in this event please contact aotearoa.experience "at" ihug.co.nz or contact Craig Muntz on 027 346-6512

8.4 Kapa Haka Enquiries
Kapa Haka groups wishing to participate at the event please contact atearoa.experience "at" ihug.co.nz or contact Craig Muntz on 027 346-6512 for a registration form.

8.5 Event Supporters - 2008 FESTIVAL

The Tainui Waka Cultural Trust acknowledges the following organisations for their support:

Gold Supporters

  • Hamilton 
  • Te Wānanga o Aotearoa 
  • Trust Waikato
  • Te Matatini
  • Maori Television Service

Silver Supporters

  • The Southern Trust
  • New Zealand Lottery Grants Board 
  • Te Puni Kokiri 
  • Mighty River Power 
  • Waikato Raupatu Lands Trust 
  • First Sovereign Trust 
  • WEL Energy Trust 

Bronze Supporters 

  • Above Productions
  • Perry Foundation 
  • New Zealand Community Trust 
  • Redfire
  • Waikato Times
  • Mystery Creek Events Centre
  • Genesis Energy

Contributors

  • Hamilton Community Arts Council
  • Aotearoa Experience Ltd
  • Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa
  • Tainui FM
  • Waipa District Council 
  • Just Water
  • Kirikiriroa Maori Wardens Sub Association

9. Event Information

9.1 Who do we contact for more event information?
Contact the Tainui Waka Cultural Trust, PO Box 4397 Hamilton East 3247, Email: aotearoa.experience "at" ihug.co.nz, Fax: 07 853 6563 Web: www.tainuihaka.org.nz