Ruia Taitea – Tūwharetoa Ahurei Festival, will fill Taupō’s Riverside Park and Unison Amphitheatre, on Saturday, February 8, with performances, stalls and exhibitions.
Organisers say it is the very first Tūwharetoa Cultural Festival driven by those from marae with a focus on grassroots kapahaka, as opposed to the competitive style seen at Te Matatini.
It aims to re-ignite pride in the iwi for every Tūwharetoa descendant and will welcome everyone who wants to share in a celebration of the tribe’s unique culture.
Ngatoru Wall, Te Kapua Whakapipi chair, says it warms her heart that the festival will bring people together for the ariki (chief) and elders.
The whole day festival is free to all and will feature song, haka, kai and mahi toi (artwork) - everything from live marae kapahaka performances to exhibitions and cooking competitions.
A fun park will cater for children, and a fully catered VIP area is available for kaumātua.
The event will be live-streamed on the website www.ruiataitea.com
