Weather could spoil events
The capital might be awash with events this weekend but the weather is looking likely to follow suit.
Revellers at Te Matatini, Coastella, and Wings Over Wairarapa may be wrapping up and ducking for cover as cloudy skies yesterday turn to showers and rain today.
MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said the worst of the weather on the weekend will be in Wairarapa, with heavy rain likely, particularly closer to the Wairarapa hills.
There would be a chance of a shower in Wellington and around Paraparaumu during the day but pretty much dry with a few cloudy periods.
It would be significantly cooler tomorrow, with the humidity falling with the rain. Temperatures in Wellington, Ka¯ piti, and Masterton would hang around 19 degrees Celsius – 22C today, but plummet to a chilly, cardiganweather 16-18C tomorrow.
While the final of kapa hapa festival Te Matatini might catch some rain tomorrow, it was less likely in the afternoon.
Not that Te Matatini crowds have proven themselves afraid of a little rain. Despite the squally weather on day two of the competition, undeterred fans were still flocking to the Westpac Stadium to support their ro¯ pu¯ [team].
The second day of the festival revealed more explosive displays of hapu and iwi strength.
The stage was set by Te Arawa group Te Pikiko¯ tuku o Nga¯ ti Rongomai who wowed the crowd with their fierce weaponry and dulcet sounds.
This was followed by local group Tu¯ Te Maungaroa, whose members displayed Te Matatini ki te Ao, the world’s biggest kapa haka festival, has come to Wellington for the first time since 1998. To mark the occasion, The Dominion Post has devised a unique masthead to welcome the 60,000 plus manuhiri (guests) in Te Whanganuia-Tara (Wellington) for the festival. The masthead will run throughout the event until February 24. During the festival, which started in 1972 to foster, develop and protect excellence in Ma¯ori performing arts, more than 1800 people will perform at Westpac Stadium as 46 teams compete for mana and glory and Toa Whakahuwaka, the overall prize. Last held in Hastings in 2017, the festival is celebrating a milestone this year as it is held for the first time at a premier sports stadium in a major city.
their unique stance as Tuhoe living in Wellington.
Te Whanau a Kai, a relatively new group from Gisborne, brought stories of historic atrocities that their iwi was subjected to.
Stalwarts Te Roopu¯ Manutaki from Auckland entertained the crowd, while previous finalists Nga¯ Tu¯ manako from the same region showed why its members were strong contenders.
Reigning champions Wha¯ nga¯ ra¯ mai Tawhiti took to the stage later in the evening, and five-time winners Waihirere closed out the day.
Three teams from yesterday’s pool competition will progress to tomorrow’s finals.
Elsewhere, Summer Shakespeare at the Dell in Wellington Botanic Gardens could migrate to the Memorial Theatre, at Victoria University, with a call made each afternoon at 2pm.
The Performance Arcade on the waterfront would continue on through woolly Wellington weather, unless there was a safety risk, such as high winds.
The shipping containers made The Performance Arcade a little more sheltered, and organisers advised wearing warm layers and a waterproof jacket. Punters could also enjoy performances indoors, such as Samoan dancer Ufitia Sagapolutele, in the New Zealand Portrait Gallery.