PO BOX 11223
Manners St, Wellington, New Zealand 6142
office@kiamaufestival.org
KA MUA KA MURI
A high-energy, emotionally resonant exploration of Mātauranga Māori, blending cultural storytelling with dynamic contemporary choreography.
As part of Kia Mau Festival’s He Ngaru Nui programme, Atamira Dance Company encompasses and uplifts the voices of acclaimed choreographers and long-time collaborators, Bianca Hyslop and Eddie Elliott in this unique and powerful double bill Ka Mua Ka Muri.
Derived from and inspired by, the whakataukī ‘kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua’, Ka Mua Ka Muri relates to Māori perspectives of time where the past, present and future are intertwined, exploring the significance of whakapapa while defining new aspirations for the future.
Remain by Eddie Elliott (Ngāti Maniapoto) emphasises the importance of preserving cultural foundations to honour the past, understand the present, and shape a promising future for rangatahi.
Whakamaheahea by Bianca Hyslop (Te Arawa) showcases urban Māori experiences by transcending loss-based narratives and embracing multifaceted identities that encompass divine, ancestral, and human elements.
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.
…there is a strong sense of empowerment, transformation, and resilience that underpins Ka Mua Ka Muri. It has the potential to inspire a bright collective.
Dates
05 June 2025
7.30pm
Venue
The Opera House
111 – 113 Manners Street
Te Aro
Wellington
theoperahouse.com
Tickets
$45 Earlybird A Reserve Adult [Until March 30]
$55-$25 A Res – C Res Adult
$40-20 A Res – C Res Concession
$35-$15 A Res – C Res Group 6+
$30-$15 A Res – C Res Student
$15-$10 A Res – C Res Child
Creative Credits
Choreographers Bianca Hyslop, Eddie Elliott
Dance Artists Abbie Rogers, Caleb Heke, Madi Tumataroa, Matiu Hamuera, Sharn Te Pou, Tai Taranui Hemana
Sound Composition Eden Mulholland
Set and Costume Design Rona Ngahuia Osborne
Lighting Design Owen McCarthy
Projection Design, Remain Owen McCarthy
Projection Design, Whakamaheahea Dan Mace
Creative Writing Support, Whakamaheahea Francis Legg
Rehearsal Director Sean MacDonald
Artistic Manager (2024) Kelly Nash
Production Manager Emmanuel Reynaud
AV Operator Bekky Boyce
Lighting Operator Wendy Clease
Stage Manager Edward Peni
Kaihautū, Director Bianca Hyslop
Kaiwhakaputa Auaha, Creative Producer Marama Lloydd
Kaiwhakahaere, General Manager Ashley David
Kaiwhakahaere Tairanga, Marketing Abbie Rogers
Kaiwhakahaere Ako, Education Abbie Rogers
Creative Direction Osborne Shiwan
Campaign Photography and Videography Sacha Stejko, IDC Photography
Show Videography Matt Gillanders
Show Photography Andi Crown
Learn More About Atamira Dance Company
Founded by a collective of dance artists in 2000, Atamira Dance Company sits at the forefront of Māori contemporary dance in Aotearoa | New Zealand.
The Atamira is the platform or stage on which we perform, giving voice to ancestral and contemporary Māori experiences through our bodies, through dance.
We value the principles of mana tangata | human rights, and mana whenua | the land and its traditional custodians, in Aotearoa and globally.
Driven by choreographic and design excellence, Atamira dance artists and collaborators create from a continuum of stories, interpretation, and memory, mapping cultural processes with contemporary choreographic and design methodology. Over 24 years we have engaged with videographers, set and spacial designers, costumiers, lighting illuminaries, poets, philosophers, photographers, and musicians, who challenge and enhance our work. Collectively we acknowledge the impacts of the past on the present while continuously defining our future.
We have shared unforgettable performances with audiences locally, nationally, and globally in Australia, Noumea, the USA, Taiwan, Korea and China.
Atamira is constantly growing and evolving. We take risks. We uplift and challenge each other.
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!
The Raro Dog
ROC+ Photography