Listeners unable to get Haka fix

The server hosting internet sites for 22 Iwi radio stations around the country crashed this morning under the pressure of listeners wanting to hear live streaming broadcasts from Te Matatini o te Rā, the world’s largest Kapa Haka festival, in Gisborne.

Streamcom, the Auckland based company that provides Irirangi.net an Internet site which streams Māori radio stations onto the world wide web have never experienced an overload of traffic for live streaming. "The demand from listeners to the live Festival internet stream was so high it brought the server down cutting off thousands of listeners," said Darrin Apanui, Executive Director of the Festival.

John Bishara, Chief Executive from Te Mangai Paho said this shows the popularity of kapa haka and the importance of iwi radio for Maori. "For many of our people who cannot make the event, access to a live broadcast is their only means of getting their kapa haka fix."

The fault was remedied and listeners are now able to listen to kapa haka live on the 22 iwi radio network via the internet.

For more information about Te Matatini o te Rā, visit www.tematatini.co.nz.