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Regional | Festival

2016 Ngāpuhi Festival to be livestreamed

Ngāpuhi descendants all over the world will be able to watch events happening at the Ngāpuhi festival this weekend via livestream technology.

Preparations are underway to livestream the Ngāpuhi festival.

Tio Taiaki, Ngapuhi Strategic Communications Manager, says, "We will livestream the whole festival in order to reach our people across the country and the world, so it's one of the new aspects of the festival and of major importance for all of Ngāpuhi."

Another special part of the festival is the Toi Ngāpuhi exhibition which will showcase pieces from leading artists who have now passed on.

Artist Andrea Hopkins says, "We lost whaea Colleen Urlich and Manos Nathan last year in September and they were like our matriarch and patriarch for the Taitokerau Māori Artists Collective so really we want to honour their legacy as artists friends and mentors."

Artist BJ Ewen says, "We want our mahi to go into those places where it belongs which is with our people so everything's for sale and everything's an investment - that's the key."

The streets of Kaikohe known as Te Pū o Te Wheke are quiet today but large crowds are expected in the build-up to the opening of the Ngāpuhi Festival on Saturday morning.

Taiaki adds, "We're really hoping for all Ngāpuhi to return to Kaikohe this weekend with a key focus on bringing our people together to celebrate our connections at the festival."