A total of 46 teams from 13 regions across New Zealand and Australia have qualified to compete at the 2019 Te Matatini ki Te Ao competition hosted by Te Whanganui-a-Tara collective - the Wellington Māori Cultural Society, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Toa and Te Āti Awa.
The competition will take place in Wellington from February 20 - 24 at the Westpac Stadium.
This afternoon Te Matatini and hakatv.com broadcasted the live draw from Te Herenga Waka Marae in Wellington.
Te Matatini also released their reo strategy for the 2019 event, which includes reo Māori signage, fluent reo speaking stall holders and more all delivering their goods and messaging predominantly in te reo.
As Paraone Gloyne explains, the strategy is appropriately dubbed, "Te Mitatini".
Here is the draw:
TE IHU – POOL A - Rāpare 21 Hui Tanguru
TE HAUMI - POOL C - Rāmere 22 Hui Tanguru
TE KEI – POOL B – Rāhoroi 23 Hui Tanguru