PO BOX 11223
Manners St, Wellington, New Zealand 6142
office@kiamaufestival.org
AVAIKI NUI SOCIAL RETURNS
‘Avaiki Nui Social Returns sharing the heat of the music of the Cook Islands. From the community halls, family homes, backyard gatherings and garage parties, you are invited to an iconic night. Join us in the journey across the ocean to ‘Avaiki Nui.
‘Avaiki Nui!
‘Avaiki Nui!
‘Avaiki Nui!
As part of our He Ngaru Nui programme, Kia Mau Festival returns to the heat of the islands. By popular demand, the Michael Fowler Centre will transform into Te Moana nui o Kiva.
For one night only, ‘Avaiki Nui Social Returns sharing the heat and sweat of the music of the Cook Islands. Listen in, sing along and dance to the songs that create the soundtrack to the moments of a lifetime. From the community halls, family homes, backyard gatherings and garage parties, you are invited to an iconic night. Join us in the journey across the ocean to ‘Avaiki Nui.
In Te Whanganui-a-Tara, a gathering of musicians will take place from across the fifteen islands of the Cook Islands. An iconic collection of celebrated musicians from Porirua, Tāmaki Makaurau and Rarotonga, they have been invited to bring their instruments to the stage.
One night only, Kia Mau Festival invites you to bask in the island heat as we return to ‘Avaiki Nui.
He Ngaru Nui is more than just a collection of performances—it is a bold statement about the value and significance of Indigenous narratives. These shows take stories that sometimes feel small, intimate, or unheard, and amplify them on the grand stages they deserve. This programming strand honours the storytelling traditions of Māori, Pasifika and global indigenous cultures, while pushing the boundaries of contemporary performance. It’s about taking stories from our communities and sharing them with the world in a way that is both respectful and revolutionary.
…the memory that has stayed with me is Jarome singing Brother Love’s ‘Aitutaki My Paradise’ as a line of a dozen dancers from the audience ‘ura in impromptu unison. The audience sang at full volume, and by the end of the first verse the line of dancers had arrived… It was a mutual serenade, a celebration of a lush musical history from which flowed a myriad of memories.
Dates
09 June 2025
7pm
Venue
Michael Fowler Centre
111 Wakefield Street
Te Aro
Wellington
michaelfowlercentre.com
Tickets
$45 Earlybird A Reserve Adult [Until March 30]
$60-$30 A Reserve
$40-20 B Reserve
$25-$15 C Reserve
$35-$15 Group 6+
$30-$15 Student
$15-$10 Child
Creative Credits
THE WANDERERS Papa Faipoto Aporo
Production Director Mīria George
Creative Producer Mīria George
Promotional Image and Film by Robert George, The Raro Dog
Production Image by ROC+ Photography
Communications and Marketing Manager Stevie Greeks
Production & Technical Director Natasha James
Executive Director Mīria George
Chief Financial Officer Laykin Paenga
Artistic Director & Chief Executive Hone Kouka
Kia Mau Festival Trust Pele Walker, Jim Moriarty, Tina McNicholas & Maia Wikaira
Learn More About Kia Mau Festival
Tihei mauri ora!
Ka mihi ki ngā uri o te whenua o Te Upoko o te ika a Māui.
E ngā haukāinga o te rohe nei, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Taranaki Whānui,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa!
Kia Mau Festival is at the forefront of contemporary Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous theatre and dance in Aotearoa and beyond. We are innovators—pushing boundaries, redefining forms, and forging new paths with creative risk-taking at every step. Right here, right now, we bring together local, national, and international artists in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. We find the intersection where our stories intertwine, creating an experience that is uniquely ‘local’ yet unparalleled in Pōneke throughout the year.
Kia Mau offers a truly unique experience, led by Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous voices at every level—from our leadership to our artists and audiences. Unlike any other festival, we are not just a platform for presentations; we are a hub for kōrero and whanaungatanga.
Our festival serves as a whare where Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists and their communities are supported throughout the creation, development, and staging of their works. By providing a nurturing environment, we empower individual artists, strengthen their capabilities, and enrich the arts sector, celebrating the diversity and talent of Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists.
With our deep understanding of the arts sector and strong relationships with artists from emerging talents to established figures, we identify those at pivotal moments in their careers or with significant projects. By including them in the Kia Mau Festival programme, we support them in taking strategic steps forward. This approach has allowed Kia Mau Festival to make a substantial impact on numerous artists and, consequently, shape the contemporary arts landscape.
Returning to Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui, Aotearoa New Zealand from 30 May – 14 June 2025. Nau mai, haramai! Nau mai, hoki mai ki te hui ahurei o Kia Mau!
Shifting Centre
Sasha Stejko