Conscious of the lack of serious inquiry into Kapa Haka, the CEO of Te Matatini Inc, the National Organisation for Kapa Haka in Aotearoa New Zealand approached Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, New Zealand’s Maori Centre of Research Excellence (NPM), to make a start on rectifying this situation. This programme of research seeks to better appreciate the value and benefits of Kapa Haka to our present context and, importantly, future vision, in turn providing clear evidence and well-articulated arguments required to support balanced decision-making, investment and future development.