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National | Dunedin - Ōtepoti

Ngāi Tahu hosts Hui-ā-Iwi 2015 in Dunedin

Ngāi Tahu families from all over the country have gathered in Dunedin for the Ngāi Tahu festival.

Hui-ā-Iwi 2015 will run from Friday 20 November to Sunday 22 November.

The event is a chance for Ngāi Tahu descendants to restore tribal ties and learn of the progress the iwi is making.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere, Sir Mark Solomon says, “In March, we hosted Te Matatini, the country’s largest kapa haka festival, for the first time in 40 years. It was a memorable event with over 28,000 people attending over four days. We also celebrated another fantastic financial year and have initiated a number of significant programmes, so this gives us a chance to share all that and more.”

Solomon says there have also been key developments in mātauranga programmes for Ngāi Tahu.

“Our tribal success means that we are in a position to support our whānau to reach greater levels of wellbeing through our programmes and direct distributions – this year the 18 Papatipu Rūnanga received $360,000 each, up from $320,000 in 2014; meaning that  in total nearly six-and-a-half million was distributed directly to our communities.”

On Saturday 19 November, the hui will be opened up to the public with hundreds of Dunedin locals expected to attend.

People who attend will have the opportunity view art work on display, watch kapa haka performances, scoff down delicious kai, attend workshops and check out some of the market stalls.

In the evening, He Waka Kōtuia, Maisey Rika, Ria Hall, Troy Kingi, Rob Ruha, the Modern Māori Quartet and Beau Monga & Crew will perform a concert as a part of the Hui-ā-Iwi Showcase which is scheduled to kick off at 6.30pm.