PO BOX 11223
Manners St, Wellington, New Zealand 6142
office@kiamaufestival.org
Bronze/Birthright
By Molly Friis
As part of our Free Access programme, Kia Mau Festival presents the Bronze/Birthright a live performance that confronts the weight of lineage and identity through the ritualised shaping of the female body by Molly Friis.
Bronze/Birthright explores the body as a site of transformation and cultural negotiation. Inspired by her Danish and Māori heritage, the work reimagines the stories of Pānia o te Ākau (Pānia of the Reef) and Den Lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid), figures navigating identity, sacrifice, and survival within colonial frameworks.
Through live performance, Molly transforms into a living bronze monument, embodying the tension between objectification and agency. The work examines how cultural narratives shape identity and challenges perceptions of femininity and autonomy. By linking statues to living bodies, Bronze/Birthright invites reflection on storytelling, representation, and the resilience of wahine.
Content warning: Nudity
Dates
08 June 2025
2pm + 6pm
Venue
Tapere Iti
Te Auaha
65 Dixon Street
Te Aro
Wellington 6011
teauahaevents.com
Tickets
Free Access
Learn More About Molly Friis
Danish / Māori designer Molly Friis (Ngāti Kahungunu) is an emerging interdisciplinary artist working across performance design, art, and film. Based in Pōneke, she graduated with a Bachelor of Design for Stage and Screen from Te Kura Toi Whakaari in 2024. Her work explores whakapapa, femininity, and cultural identity through abstraction and surreal imagery.
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!
