Creative New Zealand has secured the support of UNESCO for next year’s Maori performing arts festival, Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival. The biennial festival, to be held in Palmerston North from 22 to 25 February, will be promoted through UNESCO’s global networks and United Nations agencies as a premier cultural event on the international festival calendar. “We are honoured to be working in partnership with Te Matatini. Maori traditional performing arts is a national treasure that we are proud to help celebrate and promote on the world stage,” says UNESCO New Zealand Coordinator, Christine Robertson. “Making the good things last is something we are confident that all Kiwis will be able to identify with. The decade is about those things we treasure, safeguarding our taonga and treasures as a nation, those things we are willing to fight for to make sure they are there for future generations.” The festival will promote 23 February 2007 as UNESCO Day. “UNESCO’s extraordinary support propels Maori performing arts and the New Zealand festival scene into the international arena. We are proud to stand beside UNESCO and promote our nation,” says Te Matatini General Manager Wayne Johnson. For more information, CLICK HERE