WAIROA Rugby - Haka - Hangi Festival

9.30am Saturday 1 October, Tapuae Rugby Club, Hunter Brown St, Wairoa

Join in the fun of the Rugby, Haka, Hāngī Festival at the Tapuwae Rugby Club Grounds in Wairoa as the locals treat visitors to a friendly game of rugby, lessons in how to do the haka and some traditional Māori food.

This will be a wonderful chance to meet and interact with local rugby fans and to learn about the real people at the grassroots of rugby in New Zealand.

Come take us on!
Welcome to the home of George Nēpia, one of New Zealand's all-time great rugby players. The rugby clubs of Wairoa invite players, teams and supporters from around the world to take part in an unforgettable experience both on and off the pitch in this festival of friendship in the riverside town of Wairoa.

We’ve organise rugby matches against our local club teams suitable for all skill levels. There's workshops for those new to the game and tips to improve knowledge, ability and rugby skills. We'll even lend gear to anyone keen to suit up.

Culture
As part of the festival we’ll teach you a haka (war dance), share our tribal Māori culture at the beautifully ornate Takitimu Meeting House and show you how to prepare a traditional hāngī (food cooked in the ground in a traditional Māori way) for the celebratory dinner in the evening.

Festival & Entertainment
The whole town is expected to come along to this friendly get together and you'll experience firsthand the best of local entertainment, food and hospitality. You'll enjoy whitebait, a local delicacy caught fresh that day from the local river mouth. The evening's celebratory dinner includes entertainment by local champion traditional Māori troupe Te Rerenga Kotuku and a host of outstanding performers.