18 Feb 2019

Kupu tohutohu, tips for Te Matatini

From Morning Report, 8:55 am on 18 February 2019

As thousands of spectators get set to arrive in Wellington for Te Matatini this week, many may be wondering, how does one prepare for the biggest kapa haka festival in Aotearoa?

RNZ has been on the search for some of Te Matatini's biggest fans to find out.

Te Aniwa Hurihanganui talks to her father, and loyal Te Matatini fan, John Hurihanganui.

Turning up early is key, he says.

"You've got to arrive early to get a spot. As soon as the gates open, everyone floods in. Rather like going to the desert, there's 300 people and someone's holding a can of coke.

"If you're part of a group or whānau, put the fast young people in the front, and the oldies and fatties in the back. Because the fast ones will get the good spot."

Listen to the audio for all the kupu tohutohu - the good advice.