# Te Matatini 2027 at Hopuhopu: Planning for Groups > Te Matatini 2027, the national kapa haka festival, is at Hopuhopu in the Waikato in late February. Planning notes for groups. Source: https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-26-te-matatini-2027-hopuhopu-kapa-haka-festival-groups/ North Island 26 October 2026 · Explera Trade Desk · 3 min read ![A fast-flowing river between bush-covered banks under a cloudy sky](https://www.explera.co.nz/assets/blog/waikato-river-forest-banks-1400.webp) **Short answer:** Te Matatini, the national kapa haka festival, is held every two years. The 2027 festival, Te Matatini o Ngā Taniwha, is co-hosted by Tainui and Te Matatini at Hopuhopu, near Ngāruawāhia in the Waikato, from 22 to 27 February 2027. Explera DMC New Zealand plans rooms, coaches and guides for groups who want to attend. Kapa haka is Māori performing arts: song, dance and haka. This briefing is for travel agents and tour operators with groups in the North Island in late February 2027. ## What is Te Matatini 2027? - **The festival.** Te Matatini is the national kapa haka competition. Teams qualify at regional competitions, and the best perform at the national festival. - **The hosts.** The people of Tainui Waka co-host the 2027 festival with Te Matatini. The venue is Hopuhopu Sports Park, on Old Taupiri Road near Ngāruawāhia, north of Hamilton. - **The name.** The 2027 festival is called Te Matatini o Ngā Taniwha. - **The field.** Te Matatini says 57 kapa haka will perform, the largest number in the festival's history. ## When is it? - **Dates.** The Te Matatini event page lists Monday 22 February to Saturday 27 February 2027. - **Competition days.** The kapa perform over four days of competition in four pools. The top three from each pool go through to the finals, Te Mātangirua, on day five, Saturday 27 February. - **Tickets.** Te Matatini says ticketing information will be announced. We confirm ticketing and seating at quotation. ## How can groups attend? - **A day at the festival.** A group can spend a competition day at Hopuhopu and stay in Hamilton or Auckland. We plan the coach so the group arrives before the first performance it wants to see. - **Respect and tikanga.** Te Matatini is a Māori event, and visitors are guests. We brief clients on how to behave as an audience, and we keep the group's focus on the performances, not on photos. - **Add more of the Waikato.** Hamilton Gardens, Waitomo and Hobbiton are all within reach, so the festival can be one day of a longer Waikato programme. - **Plan for the weather.** Late February is summer. Clients need sun protection, water, a hat and a light layer. ## What should agents plan for? - **Rooms early.** The festival is large and many people will travel to the Waikato. [Kings of Leon](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-22-kings-of-leon-new-zealand-february-2027-groups/) also play Auckland Domain on Wednesday 24 February 2027, so we hold rooms with a release date as soon as a group is likely. - **Coaches and parking.** Coaches are busy in event weeks. We book coaches early and confirm drop-off and parking arrangements before travel. - **Dates to confirm.** Ticket details and the daily schedule are published by the organisers. We check them close to travel. ## How Explera DMC New Zealand can help We plan [Māori cultural experiences](https://www.explera.co.nz/services/maori-cultural-experiences-new-zealand/), [group tours](https://www.explera.co.nz/services/group-tours-new-zealand/) and [coach and private transfers](https://www.explera.co.nz/services/coach-and-private-transfers-new-zealand/) for travel agents and tour operators. See our [Hamilton and Waikato](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/hamilton-waikato/) page, our [Māori culture](https://www.explera.co.nz/explore/maori-culture/) page, our [briefing on selling Māori cultural experiences](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-05-selling-maori-cultural-experiences-respectfully/) and our [February and March 2027 events briefing](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-12-new-zealand-february-march-2027-events-group-planning/). ## FAQ **When is Te Matatini 2027?** The Te Matatini event page lists Monday 22 February to Saturday 27 February 2027. **Where is Te Matatini 2027 held?** At Hopuhopu Sports Park, near Ngāruawāhia in the Waikato, north of Hamilton. Tainui and Te Matatini are the hosts. **How many teams will perform?** Te Matatini says 57 kapa haka will perform, the largest number in the festival's history. **When are the finals?** The finals, Te Mātangirua, are on day five of the festival, Saturday 27 February 2027. **Where can a group stay?** Hamilton is the closest city, and Auckland is within a day trip. We hold rooms early because the festival brings many visitors to the Waikato. ## Sources - [Te Matatini o Ngā Taniwha 2027 Festival](https://www.tematatini.co.nz/events/te-matatini-o-nga-taniwha-2027-festival/), Te Matatini, checked 26 October 2026 - [Live draw sets the stage for Te Matatini o Ngā Taniwha 2027](https://www.tematatini.co.nz/news/live-draw-sets-the-stage-for-te-matatini-o-nga-taniwha-2027/), Te Matatini, 4 August 2026 - [Dates confirmed for Te Matatini 2027](https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/09/22/dates-confirmed-for-te-matatini-2027/), Te Ao Māori News, 22 September 2025 ## Talk to the trade desk Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal [b2b.expleradmc.com](https://b2b.expleradmc.com). Destinations in this briefing [Hamilton & the Waikato](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/hamilton-waikato/)[Auckland](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/auckland/)[Waitomo Caves](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/waitomo/)[Hobbiton (Matamata)](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/hobbiton/) ## Talk to the trade desk *Your New Zealand DMC partner* From a single FIT to series groups and full MICE programmes, every New Zealand proposal is costed by hand against your brief at net rates. Send your requirements as a new email with a descriptive subject line. [b2b@explera.co.nz](mailto:b2b@explera.co.nz) [WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090](https://wa.me/66936568090) ## More from the trade blog. *Keep reading* [All posts](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/) [Subscribe via RSS](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/rss.xml) - [DOC and RealNZ Partnership: What It Means for Groups](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-25-doc-realnz-conservation-partnership-fiordland-groups/) - [Heaphy Track and Kahurangi: Groups Guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-25-heaphy-track-kahurangi-walking-mountain-biking-groups/) - [International Visitor Levy: What It Funds](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-25-international-visitor-levy-what-it-funds-agents/)