PO BOX 11223
Manners St, Wellington, New Zealand 6142
office@kiamaufestival.org
ON GOD
By Kaisa Fa’atui
As part of our He Toi Hou programme, Kia Mau Festival presents the new work ON GOD from emerging artist Kaisa Fa’atui.
Tensions rise in the afterlife as Nafanua, the Samoan goddess of War and Jesus, son of God, aim to realign the world in their own ways. In a battle to determine who is the best god to rule them all, the two descend upon Earth and uproot the lives of an already fractured family in Wellington, Aotearoa. As ideologies collide, realms get crossed and faith gets tested, will the lives of everyone involved ever be the same again?
First appearing as a development show as part of the Six Degrees Festival in 2024, the premiere debut of ON GOD investigates Samoan religion through a modern, second-generation Pacific migrant lens. The show aims to take a deep dive into Samoan spirituality in both pre-colonial and modern contexts, from the transition of Christianity to Samoa over pre-colonial faith, to current generations in present day Aotearoa finding their connection to faith in a society becoming increasingly more secular.
This premiering show is filled with powerful narratives that will tug at the heart-srings, ask some big questions and help you laugh the evening away. Anchored by the backdrop of modern day Wellington and a breath of music genres, from rap and hiphop to idyllic soundscapes, this epic tale aims to posit the question: What is the fate of faith in our modern age?
Presented by the next generation of artists from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, including Writer, Director Kaisa Fa’atui, Producer Taylor-Rose Terekia with Marketing by Havea Latu of Vain Creative and Dramaturgy by Dr Nicola Hyland.
Content warnings include coarse language and haze. For mature audiences, 16 years plus.
He Toi Hou brings together the most innovative and thought-provoking contemporary Indigenous arts. This pou is a testament to the spirit of creation and offers a space for fresh, dynamic works to make their debut, allowing audiences to experience the raw power and authenticity of new voices or old voices in new ways.
Dates
30 May-01 June 2025
7pm Fri-Sun
2pm Saturday
Duration 70 mins
Venue
Te Auaha, Tapere Nui
65 Dixon Street,
Te Aro,
Wellington 6011
teauahaevents.com
Tickets
Adult Ticket (16 years plus): $30
Concession Ticket (Kaumātua, Senior Citizen, Community Services Card Holder, Unwaged): $25
Groups of 6 plus: $22
Student Ticket (Booked Student Ticket including tertiary, te whare wānanga, polytech, kura kaupapa and secondary school students. 16 years plus): $15
Student Standby Ticket (including tertiary, te whare wānanga, polytech, kura kaupapa and secondary school students, 16 years plus): $10
Creative Credits
Writer & Director Kaisa Fa’atui
Producer Taylor-Rose Terekia
Assistant Producer Te Ata Tu Patelesio
Production Manager Sarai Perenise & Alexander Dickson
Stage Manager Jamie-Lea Little
Lighting Designer Isadora (Izzi) Lao
Sound Designer Kaisa Fa’atui
Costume Consultant Hellena Faasili
Marketing Havea Latu of Vain Creative
Dramaturgy Dr Nicola Hyland
Performers Samoana Nokise, Joshua Leota, Jasmine Leota, Paris Tuimaseve-Fox, Stella Vaivai
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!
