A unique cultural experience synthesising hospitality, theatre, and dance.

Takurua - Battle of the Brothers is a sumptuous five-course banquet with matched wines, interwoven with a stunning theatrical display of Pasifika contemporary dance and Māori martial arts.

Euro’s sensational head chef Wallace Mua Frost serves up a feast of neo-Pasifika cuisine interpreting ancient stories on the origins of Māori and Pasifika food culture, which are brought to life in a wildly energetic dance-theatre performance.

Drawing inspiration from Māori hākari and Pasifika feasting rituals, Takurua welcomes you to join a celebration of indigenous practices in food preparation, dance, feasting, and theatrical story-telling.

Artistic director Tausani Simei-Papalii conceived the project while working as head chef at Sails Restaurant in Rarotonga, where he immersed himself in the indigenous culinary traditions of the Pacific.

The production is a stunning multidisciplinary collaboration drawing on the unique talents of acclaimed Māori and Pasifika actors, dancers, costume designers, and make-up artists.

The renowned Pasifika women’s dance collective Ura Tabu and new choreographers from the Tulou Collective have created a spectacular fusion of contemporary dance and ancient traditions which include Māori martial arts and performance by fire dancer Amo Ieriko.

The exuberantly visual production highlights the talents of award-winning costume designer and weaver Shona Tāwhiao and dazzling body paint by makeup artist Tallulah Mclean.

This unmissable experience is brought together by producer Justine Simei-Barton who has over 40 years’ experience as an award winning film-maker and founder of the ground-breaking Tala Pasifika Productions.  

Tala Pasifika Productions in association with Auckland Unlimited is proud to present Takurua-Battle of the Brothers as part of Elemental AKL.