BOLD THEATRE. FRESH DANCE. MANA MĀORI. KIA MAU.
Warming the winter month of June with a spellbinding celebration of indigenous theatre and dance from Māori and Pacific artists – join us, in Te Whānganui-a-tara, at the head of the fish, Te Ika a Māui, Wellington as eight companies performing eight productions over three weeks.
Wellington will be left breathless.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS AHI KAA FESTIVAL
A journey – this is Kia Mau.
“As Wellington is the birthplace of contemporary Māori theatre in Aotearoa New Zealand, the festival was originally called Ahi Kaa AK Festival – a name that acknowledged the ‘home fires’ – the beginning place of this creative ancestry.” Says festival curator Hone Kouka. “As the vision of the festival grew, I turned to composer Hone Hurihanganui for insight. In 2016, Kia Mau Festival continues to build upon the vibrant whakapapa that Ahi Kaa Festival established.”
In te reo Māori, kia mau is a call to stay – an invitation to join us.
VISIBILITY OF HIGH QUALITY MĀORI THEATRE & DANCE
In 2015, the festival was created to enhance the visibility of high quality Māori performance. Helmed by senior artist Hone Kouka MNZM, Kia Mau created a dynamic opportunity for Māori performance companies and performers to share their quality arts experiences with audiences throughout the Poneke and the wider Wellington region.
“What excites me most about Kia Mau Festival is the people it brings together. I love being in Wellington and engaging with other Māori Theatre makers and talking about why we do what we do. I love how Kia Mau Festival promotes and encourages new work. It is an exciting time to be a Māori practitioner.” – Kura Forrester, writer and actor (TIKI TOUR at BATS Theatre, 14-18 June)
As part of Kia Mau Festival 2016 Te Rehia Theatre Company and Okareka Dance Company would like to offer you a combined ticket price of $59 to see both SoloThello and Mana Wahine.
This special offer is only available if you book your tickets between 30 May to 12 June – saving $11.
Bookings: Circa Theatre 04 801 7992 / https://nz.patronbase.com/_Circa/Seasons/View?season_id=KMC
Under the stars of Matariki world-class theatre and dance will shine.
Kia Mau is about us all. Here. Now. Join us.
