Te Papa celebrates Matariki and 20 years of Taikura Kapa Haka
Te Papa is marking Matariki with a vibrant programme, guided by this year’s theme, Matariki herenga waka, which acknowledges the stories, traditions and mātauranga carried by waka, and the voyages that bring people together.
The line-up includes Mānawatia a Matariki exhibition hub, whānau-friendly activities, an after-dark celebration, and a milestone Taikura Kapa Haka festival.
A special evening on Rongomaraeroa presents some of the most respected voices in traditional navigation and Pacific voyaging to share their knowledge of voyaging past, present, and future: Tainui Stephens (Te Rarawa), Manihera Forbes (Tainui), Hinerapa Ruphua (Ngāti kahungunu, Te Whānau a Apanui), and Tamahau Tangitu (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Hauā).
At the heart of its Matariki programme is Taikura Kapa Haka, the annual festival that brings together hundreds of kaumātua from across Aotearoa to celebrate and perform kapa haka, waiata, and poi. This year marks its 20th anniversary.
Chair of He Kura Te Tangata Trust, Turongo Paki says, “Twenty years ago, this kaupapa was born from the vision of my grandmother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, alongside many others committed to preserving our waiata, stories, and traditions of our tūpuna.”
“Many of the waiata performed at Taikura were already more than one hundred years old when this festival began. Today, because of their foresight and dedication, those same waiata have now been sung for one hundred and twenty years, carried on the voices of our kaumātua and passed to new generations through this kaupapa.”
“As we celebrate this milestone and look to the future, we honour every voice, every step, and every contribution that has sustained Taikura. Our kaumātua remind us that culture is not inherited; it is practised, lived, and shared.”
“May we continue to hear these songs, tell these stories, and uphold these traditions for the next twenty years and beyond.”
Connections and commitment to Matariki by Te Papa runs far deeper than any single event season – it has long celebrated the Māori New Year, and in 2022, hosted the official launch of the first public holiday.
Te Papa Kaihautū, Dr Arapata Hakiwai says, “Te Papa has been proud to be a home for Matariki for many years, and Taikura Kapa Haka is at the heart of that story.”
“We acknowledge the mana of our taikura and the enduring partnership that has helped Matariki flourish as a national celebration.”
“Our kaumātua are living repositories of mātauranga, and their performances remind us that Matariki is not only seen in the sky, but also felt in the voices, the movements, and the wisdom of our elders.”
More info: tepapa.nz/Matariki2026
By the numbers
The Matariki period is consistently among the busiest periods at Te Papa, drawing an average of over 14,000 visitors each season from 2022–2026:
The official launch of the first Matariki public holiday was held at Te Papa, four years ago in 2022.
Learning about the culture of Aotearoa New Zealand and te ao Māori were key motivators for visiting Te Papa during Matariki, particularly among international visitors.
Over the last five years the Matariki programme at Te Papa has reached an estimated 10,000 people.
Over 190,000 people have visited the Mānawatia a Matariki hub since it opened in 2022.
40% of survey respondents said the hub was a motivating factor for their visit.
From cultural discovery to community celebration, the hub has drawn international visitors interested in learning about te ao Māori, and locals keen to celebrate Matariki.
In 2005, under the chairmanship of the late Tama Huata, Taikura was introduced to Te Matatini:
The first Taikura Kapa Haka at Te Papa was in 2008.
Over 100,000 people worldwide tune into the annual Taikura Kapa Haka livestream, connecting te ao Māori with audiences around the globe.
One of the earliest Taikura Kapa Haka rōpū date back to the 1960s.
Kaihaka (performers) range in age from 50 to over 90 years old.
Each year, more than 600 kaumātua take to the stage.
ENDS
Notes to editor
Wānanga Matariki: Matariki Herenga Waka | Wed 24 June, 6.30pm to 8.30pm
The Ngahiraka-Mai-Tawhiti navigators kōrero about waka voyaging – past, present, and future. This kōrero will be mainly in te reo Māori with some English.
Matariki After Dark: He ihu waka, he ihu tangata | Thu 2 Jul 2026, 7.30pm to 11pm
An adults-only celebration of the stories, traditions, and mātauranga shared between Aotearoa New Zealand and Te Moananui-a-Kiwa, the wider Pacific.
Taikura Kapa Haka | Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July
Kawe Roes and Kaweti Waetford will MC the two-day festival that takes over Te Papa, with both days livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. Taikura Kapa Haka 2026 is supported by Te Matatini, Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Māngai Pāho, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, and Te Tumu Paeroa.
Matariki Whānau Day: He waka hourua, he waka eke noa | Friday 10 July, 10am – 2pm
Come together to celebrate Matariki public holiday with free whānau-friendly activities and workshops.
Matariki Specials at Te Papa Cafe level one | 9am-3pm, until 15 July
The dishes change weekly and draw on native ingredients from the whenua, moana, and rangi: a mussel and pipi chowder and pork boil-up roulade, fried bread with spiced pork meatball, a pāua, mussel, and prawn galette, and a slow-braised beef parmigiana.
Te Papa Store | 9am-6pm daily
Visitors marking the season can also browse a new Matariki design by Tyrone Ohia in the Tukutuku merino knitwear collection; a range of t-shirts, hoodies, and beanies designed by Maia Gibbs and Henare Brooking; plus, a limited run of key rings, pins, and lanyards. Every purchase at the cafe and store supports the work of Te Papa.
Media contact
Heather Byrne | 029 601 0120 | heather.byrne@tepapa.govt.nz
Photos and captions
Please note that this content is being supplied to you for the purposes of this press release only. Media may not crop, alter, or edit the images in any way without Te Papa's prior permission. The content must be fully attributed as per the provided credit line(s).
Image captions
Matariki Specials at Te Papa Cafe, June 2026.
Matariki Specials at Te Papa Cafe, June 2026.
Matariki Specials at Te Papa Cafe, June 2026.
Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao Koeke, Taikura Kapa Haka 2025, Te Papa.
Matariki Whānau Day 2025, Te Papa.
Matariki Whānau Day 2025, Te Papa.
Matariki Whānau Day 2025, Te Papa.
Matariki After Dark 2025, Te Papa.
Matariki After Dark 2025, Te Papa.
Tukutuku Knitwear Collection at Te Papa Store.
Matariki After Dark 2025, Te Papa.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Te Puru O Tāmaki Taikura performing at Taikura Kapa Haka, 2018, Te Papa.
About Taikura Kapa Haka
The origins of Taikura Kapa Haka date back to early 2000s and the late Te Arikinui Kahurangi Dame Te Atairangikaahu who saw the need for performers who no longer participated in Māori performing arts competitions to have a place where old action songs, poi, haka, and waiata could be performed again.
As a result, in 2005, under the chairmanship of the late Tama Huata, Taikura was introduced to Te Matatini with the kaupapa of reviving and performing compositions that were composed prior to 1970 by iconic figures such as Princess Te Rangi Pai, Ariki Te Puea Herangi, Hone Heke. Sir Apirana Ngata, Paraire Tomoana, Kingi Tahiwi, Guide Bella, Te Aritaua Pitama, Tuini Ngawai, and many others.
In 2008 the He Kura Te Tangata Trust was formed to oversee the kaupapa with the late Tama Huata as the inaugural Chair, alongside trustees, Te Paekiomeka Ruha, Mamae Takerei, Julie Dwyer and the late Puti Mackey.
About Te Papa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is Aotearoa New Zealand’s much-loved national museum, and in 2025 was recognised by TripAdvisor as the country’s leading visitor attraction, ranking in the top one per cent of experiences worldwide.
Te Papa brings together art, history, science, and Māori and Pacific cultures through immersive, hands‑on experiences that invite curiosity and discovery. Its national art gallery houses the country’s national art collection across two floors.
At its heart, Te Papa is a celebration of Māori culture and identity, where visitors can experience contemporary and traditional Māori art, ancestral stories, and exhibitions that offer insight into how Māori culture shapes life in Aotearoa today.
The national museum cares for more than two million objects, is home to a major research centre, and is internationally recognised for its commitment to bicultural practice and the repatriation of Māori and Moriori ancestral remains. Through Te Papa Collections Online, more than one million taonga are accessible to audiences around the world.