Pōneke Celebrates Te Reo Māori With An Exciting New Festival

A partnership between Wellington City Council, Taranaki Whānui and Ngāti Toa Rangatira is bringing a fantastic new festival of events, activities, and exhibitions to Pōneke to coincide with September’s nationwide Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori celebrations.

The Māori Language Festival of Wellington, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Māori language petition delivered to Parliament in September 1972 with Te Reo Māori focused arts and events.

Many of the whānau-friendly events are free, or on a sliding pay scale, so everyone’s welcome and encouraged to pay what they can.

The programme includes a screening of the Te Reo Māori version of Disney’s hugely popular animated feature The Lion King, and a special Storytime reading of children’s books in Te Reo Māori accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

The multi-sensory experience Te Pae will bring together artforms and top artists including Troy Kingi, Horomona Horo, Maisey Rika, and Ria Hall.

There’ll also be a night of cabaret, kōrero and kai with thoroughly modern Māui, and performance excellence will be on display at Ngā Kapa Haka o Te Matatini showcasing Aotearoa’s top two kapa haka, reigning Te Matatini champion Ngā Tūmanako (Auckland) and Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai (Rotorua), hosted by local kapa haka Te Ahi a Tahurangi.

This is a festival to not be missed whānau, for more information click here!