PO BOX 11223
Manners St, Wellington, New Zealand 6142
office@kiamaufestival.org
Waenga
Presented by Hurō Productions
Presented by Hurō Productions
As part of our He Toi Hou programme, Kia Mau Festival presents the new work Waenga from mana whenua artists Hariata and Tamati Moriarty (Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, Ngā Puhi Hokianga ki te Raki).
The first work from new Māori theatre company, Waenga follows Connie, a fiery, quick-witted young wahine caught in the crossfire of chasing her dreams and an unexplainable visit to a place she doesn’t belong. Alongside her is Grayson, a junior defence lawyer navigating the complexities of the legal system while trying to uphold his identity and mana motuhake. Written by next generation artists Hariata and Tamati Moriarty (Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, Ngā Puhi Hokianga ki te Raki) with mentorship and dramaturgy by Helen Pearse Otene (Ngā Puhi Hokianga ki te Raki), directed by Jim Moriarty (Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāti Koata).
Waenga features a production team including lighting design and operation by Janis Cheng, sound by Hāmi Hawkins (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Wai) and music arrangements and live performance by Rameka Tamaki (Tūhoe, Maniapoto).
Content warnings include coarse language, strobe lighting.
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
6pm Fri-Sat
4pm
Venue
Te Auaha
65 Dixon Street,
Te Aro,
Wellington 6011
teauahaevents.com
Tickets
Adult Ticket (16 years plus): $25
Concession Ticket (Kaumātua, Senior Citizen, Community Services Card Holder, Unwaged): $20
Groups of 6 plus: $17
Student Ticket (Booked Student Ticket, M Rated must be 16 years plus, including tertiary, te whare wānanga, polytech): $15
Standby Student Ticket (Booked Student Ticket, M Rated must be 16 years plus, including tertiary, te whare wānanga, polytech): $10
Creative Credits
Ngā Kaituhi me ngā Kaihautū | Writers & Producers Hariata and Tamati Moriarty (Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, Ngā Puhi Hokianga ki te Raki)
Kaituhu Wewete me Kaiwhakaruruhau | Dramaturgy & Mentor Helen Pearse Otene (Ngā Puhi Hokianga ki te Raki)
Kaitohu | Director Jim Moriarty (Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāti Koata)
Kaihautū | Producer Kauia Moriarty (Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāti Koata)
Kaiwhakahaere Rama | Lighting Design & Operation Janis Cheng (廣東番禺 / 海南)
Ringapuoro | Live Music and Arrangement Rameka Tamaki (Tūhoe, Maniapoto)
Ringapuoro Hangarau | Sound Design Hāmi Hawkins (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Wai)
Kaiwhakahaere Pāpāpoho Pāpori | Social Media Lead Kamaia Bambridge-Frost (Ngāpuhi, Waikato Tainui)
Mihi | Acknowledgements
Ka rere te mihi nui ki ēnei ringa kua tautoko i a mātou ki runga i tēnei haerenga – Ko Jamie McCaskill, rātou ko Waitahi McGee, Lisa Maule, Regan Taylor, Tiara Hammond, Sean Walsh, Paige Wilson me ngā tauira Māori or ngā kura o St Catherine’s, St Patrick’s, St Mary’s.
A special thank you to those who have supported us on this journey – Jamie McCaskill, Waitahi McGee, Lisa Maule, Regan Taylor, Tiara Hammond, Sean Walsh, Paige Wilson and Māori students from St Catherine’s, St Patrick’s, St Mary’s.
Learn More About Hurō Productions
Story sovereignty is the vessel for our cultural renaissance and this is the tuapapa of any creative works produced by Hurō. Hurō Productions is Hariata and Tamati Moriarty with production co-ordination by Kauia Moriarty and communications by Kamaia Bambridge.
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!
