Autaia Unveils Two Nights Of Rangatahi-Led Haka Theatre
Returning to Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 August, Autaia 2025 will feature 12 schools and kura from Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Tai Tokerau and, for the first time, Waikato. Presented by Hawaiki TŪ and Auckland Live (a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited), this year's event embraces the theme 'He Hawaiki Hou – A Return, A Renewal, A Rising'.
Founder and Artistic Director of Autaia, Kura Te Ua, says that it's humbling to see how Autaia is evolving and the impact it's having on rangatahi, their kura, and wider communities.
'This year we've found ways to keep the kaupapa growing. Our rangatahi deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Autaia creates space for them to stand confidently in their own light and unapologetically express who they are and who they are becoming,' says Te Ua.
The new two-night format introduces new categories which will showcase high-impact performances. Each school will present an original haka theatre piece, conceptualised, choreographed and performed by the students. The three creative categories include:
Haka Bracket: Haka infused with theatrical storytelling
Haka Musical: Haka blended with song, drama, and characterisation
Haka Movement: Storytelling through Haka Movement and choreography
With NCEA credits, mentorship from industry professionals, and a platform to showcase their talents on stage and behind the scenes, Autaia celebrates identity, artistry and rangatahi leadership.
'As part of our extension plan, we're excited to welcome our first kura from Waikato to the Autaia stage. Their unique style and deep connection to their hapori bring fresh energy to the kaupapa, showing that haka theatre connects and empowers rangatahi far beyond Tāmaki Makaurau,' says Te Ua.
'Through bold creativity and the lived experiences of rangatahi, each Autaia performance becomes a powerful expression of te ahurea Māori and a reminder that He Hawaiki Hou is within our reach,' Te Ua adds.
' Autaia shows what's possible when we back our taiohi-rangatahi and the creative sector,' says Helen Te Hira, Director of Māori Outcomes at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
'As the region's cultural agency, we're proud to support Autaia alongside senior Māori creatives as it grows into a bold, future-focused platform. Through Auckland Live, we help create spaces — on stage, behind the scenes, and beyond — where taiohi-rangatahi can thrive, lead, and shape the creative future of Aotearoa'.
Tickets are now on pre-sale for Autaia 2025, promising to be an unmissable showcase of the next generation of storytellers redefining haka theatre. Schools and kura performing at Autaia 2025 are:
Tāmaki Makaurau
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae
Ngā Tūmanako o Kahurangi – Auckland Girls' Grammar
Te Whānau o Tupuranga – Kia Aroha Campus
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori a rohe o Māngere
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kōtuku
Te Kura Tuarua o Pukekohekohe
Massey High School
Ngā Puna o Waiōrea
Te Tai Tokerau
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rāwhitiroa
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe
Te Rangi Āniwaniwa
Waikato
Ngā Taiātea Wharekura
Autaia takes place at Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre, on Thursday 28 August & Friday 29 August 2025, from 7 PM to 9 PM. Tickets go on sale to the General Public on Thu 17 July, 9am from: www.ticketmaster.co.nz/artist/3177440?did=hawaiki
Note:
Auckland Live is the premiere organisation for performing arts, culture, entertainment and events in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. As Aotearoa New Zealand's largest performing arts organisation, we proudly present a programme of live arts and entertainment across our iconic venues: Aotea Centre, The Civic, Auckland Town Hall, The Cloud, Shed 10, Viaduct Events Centre, Bruce Mason Centre, and Aotea Square. Auckland Live is part of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, a council-controlled organisation.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) is Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland's cultural, events and destination agency. It is an Auckland Council-controlled organisation that works to make Auckland a vibrant place to live and visit, through events, experiences and taonga (treasures).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
13 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Exhibition blends arcade games, Māori design
Tūhura Otago Museum pasifika engagement co-ordinator Leota Meredith tries her hand at one of the reimagined video games featured in the "Arca Arcade: Round One" exhibition. PHOTO: CHARLIE BUCHAN Contemporary design and cultural storytelling come together in a unique exhibition now open at Tūhura Otago Museum. "Arca Arcade: Round One" is a display of fully playable retro gaming machines created by designer Preston McNeil, of Wellington. Mr McNeil said he wanted to create something that honoured both the history of arcade gaming and the richness of contemporary Aotearoa art. "These machines are a love letter to every kid who dropped their last 20 cents into a game they knew they could not win, but tried anyway. "Blending those memories with the depth and craft of Māori design has created something I never imagined I would be able to build." "Arca Arcade" integrates te ao Māori, whakairo (carving) and worked pounamu with classic video game culture. The machines are adorned with original artwork from contemporary artists including Gina Kiel, Flox, Otis Frizzell, Joe Sheehan and Otis Chamberlain. Visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to play the games housed inside each uniquely designed cabinet. Tūhura Otago Museum pasifika engagement co-ordinator Leota Meredith said playing the games brought back memories. "Back in my prime, we used to call these games 'choice'. It was all about challenging your mates. "You would only find them at the local dairy and playing felt like a special occasion." Players once had to pay 20 cents, which was a significant amount then, so every game mattered. "It's great to play them again; it brings back so many memories. And having them free now? Even better." Tūhura Otago Museum head of exhibitions and design Craig Scott said Dunedin was already a hub for digital innovation and home to creative gaming talent. "We are proud to partner with Code, the Centre of Digital Excellence, to present this exhibition and show young people what is possible when design, technology and culture collide. "This is about inspiring as much as it is fun nostalgia." • "Arca Arcade: Round One" runs until September 21 in the Beautiful Science Gallery.
Otago Daily Times
13 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Waiata recorded to honour anniversary
Teone Hotu was sitting on a beat-up old couch at a student flat party when the lightbulb went on. The 24-year-old University of Otago dental student realised that many of the original waiata they were singing at Te Rōpū Māori (the Māori Students' Association) gatherings and house parties, were written by Māori students at the university, and they deserved to have their own spotlight. So he decided to collate the waiata and record them for an EP, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Te Rōpū Māori (TRM). While it may seem completely out of left field for a fourth-year dental student to be producing an EP, it all makes sense when Mr Hotu reveals he has affiliations to Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Maniapoto, and he previously won a music scholarship to spend a year at the Six60 house, in Castle St, studying music production. Te Rōpū Māori 30th Anniversary EP features a collection of six waiata, performed by TRM students and alumni. They were produced by Mr Hotu and his uncle, award-winning Māori music producer Maaka 'Phat' McGregor, and recorded by Stephen Stedman at the university's School of Performing Arts recording studio. Mr Hotu said the waiata told stories that related to tauira Māori, about seizing the day, striving for excellence, letting loved ones go, staying grounded in Māori identity, and showcasing the 'after-hours' culture of student life at Otago. "I thought it would be awesome to record them so the music and the messages wouldn't be lost, and so they could inspire future generations. "The EP is also a tribute to all the people who have supported us on our journey at the University of Otago, so it's great to be able to release the EP in conjunction with the 30th Anniversary of Te Rōpū Māori." He said the EP took a lot of hard work, rehearsal time and commitment while they prepared for exams and dealt with life in general. "I'm so proud of my fellow students, their beautiful singing and harmonies, and the energy, emotion and feelings they put into their performances. "Above all, I feel like it's all been worth it and we're making a difference for those who will come after us." He said a music video had been created for track 2 — Te Ata o Tūmāhina, composed by Kiti Te Maire Brennan and Thomas-Aerepo Morgan — to help promote the EP's release today. The music video can be viewed on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. He hoped hearing the waiata on the radio would give alumni "flashbacks" of their hectic, yet nostalgic uni days. "I would love to have the opportunity to do other projects like this before my time ends at Otago, but if not, I'm hopeful that future Te Rōpū Māori students will continue what we have started here, in years to come. "Beyond that, I hope that in 50 years from now, we can look back and see that what we did here was the start of something bigger — the first in a series of TRM waiata to be produced, or that one song inspired our mokopuna to strive for excellence and become the first teacher, lawyer, dentist, or doctor in their whānau." The EP will be launched online today at the University of Otago Auahi Ora events venue, and will be available on all major digital platforms.
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Kōanga Festival Unveils Full Line-Up For This September In Tāmaki Makaurau
(Tāmaki Makaurau, Wed 23 July, 2025) - Kōanga Festival, a captivating celebration of Māori performing arts, has unveiled its dynamic hōtaka (programme) for the 2025 event. Returning to Te Pou Theatre for two packed weekends from 12 to 21 September, the 2025 programme champions new Māori voices and work across theatre, music, and dance, from powerful play readings and live gigs, to a fun-filled community Whānau Day. Kōanga is a time when te taiao comes to life with new growth. Kōanga Festival cultivates new ideas and shares the bounty of new narratives through Māori performing arts. Now in its 11th year, Kōanga Festival is where Māori stories are crafted, shared and embraced. This year's headline show What Happened To Mary-Anne? is a bold, high-energy rock show created by award-winning performer and writer Brady Peeti. Featuring a live band and original music, the show is an unflinching, electric ride through love, identity, and memory. What Happened To Mary-Anne? takes place on three nights only from Friday 19 - Sunday 21 September. Festival favourite Whānau Day, taking place Saturday 13 September, is an open, free festival day for all to enjoy. Expect a magical storytelling grove, kai stalls, a rangatahi curated outdoor music stage, kapa haka, kids' theatre, games, and more. It's a celebration of storytelling that the whole whānau can experience together. 'Kōanga Festival 2025 shares the talents of excellent Māori performing arts makers, and nurtures new stories for the stage, with a focus on crucial voices at crucial times; futuristic thinking, urban Māori stories and electrifying performances.' says Amber Curreen, Artistic Director. From Friday 19 - Saturday 20 September, emerging Māori playwrights will present their newly developed works following three months of creative development through the Kōanga Playwrights Programme. With limited capacity, these readings offer a rare first-look at the future of Māori theatre. This year's playwrights are Leigh Minarapa (Ngāti Rangitihi) with 'Te Koha', Lila Māhina Black (Ngāti Raukawa) with 'Strange Signals: Aliens in Aotearoa', Zody Takurua (Ngā Rauru) with 'WHŌRE', and Ngahiriwa Rauhina (Ngāti Whakaue, Tuhourangi ki Wahiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Raukawa) presenting the only te reo Māori work within the Kōanga Playwrights Programme, 'Te Tau E'. 'Te Tau E' marks Kōanga alumnae Ngahiriwa Rauhina's first full-length mainstage work presented entirely in te reo Māori. 'It's the first time we've had so many works dealing directly with Māori futurism and critical contemporary kaupapa.' says Amber Curreen in regards to the Playwrights Programme. 'At this time when there's so much disruption in the world our artists will do what they do best and come together to imagine new pathways forward.' Atamira Dance Compan y will be presenting two unique showings within the festival under Kia Pohewatia their choreographic residency programme with Rachel Ruckstuhl-Mann (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Rangitāne) and Samara Reweti (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Uenukukopako). Kia Pohewatia is dedicated to supporting Māori choreographers in developing new works. Through studio time, mentorship, and collaboration with Atamira artists, this residency offers a space for research, experimentation, and the early shaping of future projects. 'Kōanga is a time for nurturing fresh, new narratives, and Kia Pohewatia embodies this by providing a platform for Māori choreographers Rachel Ruckstuhl-Mann and Samara Reweti to dream, experiment, and share early-stage works that invite audiences into their evolving creative journeys. It will be exciting to witness these unfolding new offerings as they are shared with the public.' says Bianca Hyslop (Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue-kaipapa, Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wāhiao, Pākehā), Artistic Director of Atamira Dance Company. 13 Sept | Whānau Day (Free event) 14 Sept | Atamira Dance Company Presents: Kia Pohewatia with Rachel Ruckstuhl-Mann 19 - 21 Sept | 'What Happened To Mary-Anne?' - Brady Peeti 19 Sept | Play Readings Pōmere by Leigh Minarapa with 'Te Koha' & Ngahiriwa Rauhina with 'E Tau e' 20 Sept | Play Readings Pōhoroi by Lila Black with 'Strange Signals: Aliens in Aotearoa' & Zody Takurua with 'WHŌRE' 21 Sept | Te Arero Toi Reo Māori Playwrighting Wānanga and Atamira Dance Company Presents: Kia Pohewatia with Samara Reweti 'It will be a beautiful, big and audacious ten days at Te Pou - we look forward to seeing you there!' Amber Curreen.
