Up to 50 singers, dancers and crafts people from French Polynesia are to take part in the Takitimu international cultural festival to be held in Hawke's Bay in September.
Among the participants are the Tahiti Dance Troupe from Tavai'ura led by choreographer Leila Lai.
She says her traditional dancers will be acknowledging their ancestral ties with the iwi of Hawke's Bay in their appearances.
Ms Lai says she's been working hard composing songs and choreographing dance moves which will tell the story of how her people are linked to the Ngati Kahungunu peoples through the same waka.
The performance will take place at the Hawke's Bay Opera House on 16 September.