AUTAIA - Auckland Live and Hawaiki TŪ present rangatahi Māori haka theatre show 

Photo: 2022 performer Alexus Joy Kairau (Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Tuwharetoa)

Published: Monday 8 May 2023

For one night only haka theatre returns to the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre stage on Friday 9 June as tauira from across Tāmaki Makaurau perform in Autaia 2023.   

Featuring 400 tauira from six schools, Autaia is the merging of modern day theatre and traditional Māori performing arts. Each school will perform a captivating 15-minute set featuring talented rangatahi sharing their life experiences through vibrant, powerful performances. 

The six schools include Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kotuku, Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, Auckland Girls Grammar (Kahurangi ki Maungawhau), Manurewa High School and James Cook High School (Te Pūkenga). 

Created by Hawaiki TŪ in partnership with Auckland Live, Autaia celebrates the richness, diversity, and importance of Ngā Toi Māori (Māori Arts). Autaia is a first of its kind and showcases the emerging generation of Māori performers and artists, as they share their stories through haka theatre. 

Creative Director and lead of Hawaiki TŪ (Co-creator of Autaia), Kura Te Ua, says that this is an opportunity to exhibit the unlimited potential that the combination of Kapa haka and theatre can offer.  

‘Every school has a story that deserves to be told as every student has a light that deserves to shine. Autaia means “to be extraordinary” and this kaupapa encourages every single person involved to step into the world of haka theatre because on the other side awaits a pathway of passion, pride and unwavering self belief.’ says Te Ua.    

Autaia partner Auckland Live shares in the vision of Autaia. Now in its third year, the programme is accessing its communities and creating spaces for whānau to tell their stories, eventually seeing students lead their communities in the theatre space. 

Autaia also gives students the opportunity to gain NCEA credits in the space of creative arts and Māori culture, specifically through the curriculum of Te Ao Haka, Drama,Theatre, and Te Reo Rangatira.  

Te Ua hopes that this event creates a domino effect that impacts and inspires the students, teachers, whanau and the wider communities to pursue extraordinary things.  

For more information on Autaia or to purchase tickets visit aucklandlive.co.nz.  

 

Tickets on sale to the general public 9am, Thursday 11 May.