Organisers have confirmed there will be no gate sales available. Photo: Te Matatini Enterprises / SUPPLIED
All online tickets for the final day of the Te Matatini festival have sold out and the organisers have confirmed there will be no gate sales available.
Te Matatini chief executive Carl Ross said the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth - where the festival is being held - holds 15,000 people and it is at capacity.
"It's an amazing feeling to know that we have achieved a sold-out finals day," Ross said.
Te Kāhui Maunga Society chair Elijah Pue said he was thrilled so many have embraced the "power and beauty" of kapa haka.
"It's so wonderful that so many people from near and afar want to come and enjoy the magic that is Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga," Pue said.
Te Matatini said it's priority was for everyone to experience kapa haka and the finals could still be watched online and on TV.
It is available on Whaakata Māori and TVNZ channel 2 or online on Whakaata Māori's MĀORI+ and TVNZ+.
Ngāti Whātua is hosting fan-zones in Auckland with food and market stalls, workshops and live haka performances from local rangatahi groups.
The best 12 haka rōpū from the week will go head to head on Saturday for the finals.
They will be announced at 5:20pm on Friday 28 February, once all 55 teams have performed.
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