NZSO And Wairea Company To Headline Aronui Arts Festival 2025
Following the success of Aronui's Matariki Drone Show, which drew over 35,000 people across two nights, the festival returns with a curated programme that focused on high-impact, deeply grounded works that highlight Indigenous storytelling and creativity.
Atua Wahine is part of a wider offering from Aronui Arts Festival. The festival will showcase an inspiring lineup of live music, performance art, and solo works. Aronui Creative Director and Founder, Cian Elyse White says,
'It's an honour to announce the 2025 festival lineup headlined by the NZSO and Wairea, who are delving into a new work seeded at last year's festival.
Arts are an essential service, and after the success of the ARONUI Matariki programme, including our drone show, we are stoked to bring our September festival back to the community.'
Created and directed by acclaimed artist Rangipo Ihakara, Atua Wahine breathes life into the stories of Māori goddesses through an immersive performance that features wāhine of all ages. The production blends contemporary dance, taonga puoro, and the orchestral power of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
'Atua Wahine is an offering. A coming together of wāhine across generations to embody the essence of our ancient Māori goddesses through movement, sound, and spirit,' says Ihakara.
'Through Māori contemporary dance, classical music and taonga puoro, we allow the audience to feel and sense their way through the piece. To foster a space where they are able to tap into their own consciousness to create, to add their own intentions, to have conversations, to get uncomfortable, and to be comforted.'
This piece is the second phase of Wairea's exploration into Atua Wahine, following their debut collaboration with Heipūkarea - an event that celebrated wāhine Māori creatives across disciplines and supported the launch of Hana Tapiata's book Atua Wahine - The Ancient wisdom of the Maori goddesses. The experience inspired the company to go deeper, reconnecting with Atua through movement, music, and story.
'In te ao Māori and Indigenous cultures, feeling, sensing, and language are vital forms of communication and connection. Concepts such as mahi a te wairua (spiritual work), te mauri o te tangata (the life force of a person), and te reo me ngā tikanga (language and customs) are foundational to this performance. By embracing wairua (spirit) and mauri (life force), we navigate the creative process - crafting an Indigenous musical that resonates with all audiences,' says Ihakara.
Aronui Arts Festival will be held from 11 - 21 September at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre and Thurston Theatre. Atua Wahine will run from 11 - 13 September in Sir Owen Glenn Theatre/Matangi Rau in the Sir Howard Morrison Centre. For tickets and more information, visit aronui.nz.
About Wairea Company:
Wairea Company is dedicated to presenting innovative and culturally significant performances
highlighting Indigenous narratives and fostering community collaboration. They aim to inspire and empower audiences by showcasing the richness of Māori and other Indigenous cultures.
About Aronui Arts Festival:
The Aronui Arts Festival celebrates indigenous cultures' diversity and creativity through various artistic expressions, including music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. The festival aims to foster understanding and appreciation of cultural heritage while providing a platform for artists to share their stories and talents.
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