Ka Tito Au

Presented by Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School

Join Kia Mau Festival in celebrating the rangatahi of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School as they take the stage of Hannah Playhouse with Ka Tito Au by acclaimed poet, playwright and composer Apirana Taylor (Ngāti Porou, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Ngāti Ruanui, Pākehā). In 2024, Apirana was awarded the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Poetry.

Explorer. Navigator. Legend. Multiple pūrākau thread together to celebrate Kupe’s discovery of Aotearoa. His love for his people, his dreams and his heroism, lead to a climactic battle with a giant Wheke. Ka Tito Au is a stream of rich poetic consciousness, presented by Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School.

Kia Mau Festival is at the forefront of contemporary Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous arts 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 Festival 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.

Dates

30 May – 07 June 2025
7pm

31st May, 2pm matinee

Venue

Hannah Playhouse
12 Cambridge Terrace,
Te Aro,
Wellington 6011
hannahplayhouse.org.nz

Tickets

Adult Ticket (15 years and above): $15 + $2.50 booking fee

Concession Ticket (Kaumātua, Senior Citizen, Community Services Card Holder, Unwaged): $10 + $2.50 booking fee

Student Ticket (including tertiary, te whare wānanga, polytech, and secondary school students): $10 + $2.50 booking fee

Book Here

Creative Credits

Writer Apirana Taylor
Director Regan Taylor
Movement Director Emele Ugavule
Set and Costume Designer Tony De Goldi
Lighting Designer Alex Fisher
Composer Gareth Farr
Composer/Taonga Pūoro Alistair Fraser
Associate Lighting Designer Imogen Vlugter
Associate Sound Designer Jack Tankersley
Producer Helena-Jane Kilkelly

Ensemble
Toi Whakaari Rāranga (Second-year) Acting Cohort
Merrill Abapo
Asher Bassett
Margot Coleman
Zoe Courtney
Kris Girven
Tinorawe Hawkins
Te Okanga Huata-Wagner
George Long
Kyra Loomans
Ocean Manutulila
Nadia Officer
Violet Patterson
Logan Pocock
Patupaiarehe Porter
Pānia Rolfe
Tiare Savea
Steffany Silva De Lautour
William Thompson
Justina-Rose Tua
Ali’itasi Vae’au
Zen Wilson-Travis

Production Team

Production Manager Luci McDougall
Assistant Production Manager Sammy Hook
Stage Manager Isla McLarin
Deputy Stage Manager Kyah Boothby
Assistant Stage Manager Scarlet Walker
Assistant Stage Manager Mia Moore
Head of Lighting Ava Vivier
Lighting Operator Natalie Wadsworth
Lighting Systems Tech Maddie Payne
Head Of Sound Bella Robinson
Sound Operator Sarah Taiaroa
Mech/Flys Zoe Fallon
Mech/Flys Liam Frampton

Build Team

Seren Ashmore
Adam Buller
Murphy Cody
Kiara Gillard
Jess Haigh
Caitlin Laurie
Amy Roscoe
Halina Smith
Harvey Armstrong
Kalika Bell
Evander Claydon
Sam Davy
Faith Dixon
Dom Faggotter
Thora Lee
Maddy Marr
Nina Watts

Costume Construction Team
Makini Calliste-Woollard
Bells Campbell
Emily Chilwell
Alex Erickson
Rebekah Goodchild
Fritha Johnston
Sophie Mitchell
Rhiannon Roberts
Amber Winch

Crew
With thanks to the Bachelor of Performing Arts (Management) Department.

Mentors

Production Management Mentor Theresa Hanaray
Stage Management Mentor Bridget Carpenter
Costume Mentor Kaarin Slevin
Technical Mentor Oliver Devlin
Vocal Coach Hillary Norris
Te Reo Māori Support Taylor-Rose Terekia & Ali’itasi Vae’au

Learn More About Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School

We are Toi Whakaari. Our distinctive learning approach, built on the mātauranga and tikanga of our whakapapa, enables our tauira to tell their, and our nation’s, unique story. As New Zealand’s premier school of performing arts, our legacy has always been to train the best performers, designers, and craftspeople from here and from around the world.

We recognise all our students as future rangatira. They emerge from here – knowing who they are and where they stand – ready to add their value to Aotearoa New Zealand’s thriving performing arts community.

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!

PO BOX 11223
Manners St, Wellington, New Zealand 6142
office@kiamaufestival.org