Latest news with #AucklandLive
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Autaia Unveils Two Nights Of Rangatahi-Led Haka Theatre
Haka Theatre showcase, Autaia is back and this time, it's twice as exciting. For the first time, it will span two evenings giving more schools and kura than ever a chance to unleash their ihi, wehi and wana on stage. 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: 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).
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Autaia Unveils Two Nights Of Rangatahi-Led Haka Theatre
Haka Theatre showcase, Autaia is back and this time, it's twice as exciting. For the first time, it will span two evenings giving more schools and kura than ever a chance to unleash their ihi, wehi and wana on stage. 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: 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).
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Prepare To Fall In Love: Trent Dalton's Love Stories Comes To The Civic, Auckland, This October
Press Release – 818. Auckland Live, in association with Auckland Writers Festival, proudly presents the New Zealand exclusive season of Love Stories — the critically acclaimed stage sensation by Trent Dalton, direct from standing ovations and five-star raves in Australia. This heart-expanding theatrical gem plays just five performances at The Civic, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, from Thursday 16 October to Sunday 19 October. Adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright Tim McGarry and directed by Sam Strong (the creative team behind the smash-hit page-to-stage adaptation of Boy Swallows Universe), Love Stories invites audiences into Dalton's world: a city street corner, a battered Olivetti typewriter, and a single question posed to strangers passing by – ' Can you please tell me a love story?' ' In a time when we need joy more than ever, Love Stories lifts the spirit.' – Arts Hub From strangers to soulmates, parents to children, friends to lifelong companions, the stories collected and celebrated in this remarkable production traverse the full spectrum of human love. Weaving real-life encounters with music, laughter, movement, and tenderness, Love Stories is an unforgettable tribute to the beauty, fragility, and fierce resilience of the human heart. 'It dives into the chaos of love – the joy, the pain, the laughter, the heartbreak … sending you back to the streets feeling just a little more alive' – The Guardian Trent Dalton reflected on the production's journey from the streets of Brisbane to The Civic in Auckland: 'Early this year, the extraordinary gang from Auckland Live walked me into that hallowed Civic theatre in the heart of that glorious city. They showed me exactly what it will feel like to walk into Love Stories come showtime. The theatre ceiling literally shimmered with a blanket of stars. That theatre – that city, their writer's festival – embodies everything the play is about … community, dreams, storytelling, connection, love in all its tricky and wondrous forms. I kinda lost my mind with the joy and possibility of it all. It's a dream come true for me, to create a piece of art that adds to a history of NZ culture – theatre, books, film, music, art – that has inspired me since I was a teenage writer wannabe who could only dream of having something he wrote travelling across the ditch, all the way to paradise. Thank you Auckland Live, from the bottom of my heart. And thank you dear Auckland!' Daniel Clarke, Director of Performing Arts at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, leading Auckland Live commented: 'I saw the very first pitch of this work at idea stage and knew that it would be a winner. And it has been. Thousands of people across Australia have seen this play since its world premiere at Brisbane Festival. This is a beautiful work, full of heart and innovatively staged; we can't wait to share this stunning production with the audiences of Aotearoa. It is the perfect spring show – love will be in the air!' Love Stories was originally commissioned and produced by Brisbane Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre. The production features additional writing and story by Trent Dalton and Fiona Franzmann, with choreography by Nerida Matthaei, design by Renee Mulder, lighting by Ben Hughes, and original music and sound design by Stephen Francis. Don't miss this moving celebration of humanity, connection, and the stories that bind us. Presales are on now, ahead of the general onsale on Thu 3 July, 9 AM. With just five performances, audiences are encouraged to book tickets early to secure their seats for this strictly limited season. For more information, go to 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 entity, 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.
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Prepare To Fall In Love: Trent Dalton's Love Stories Comes To The Civic, Auckland, This October
Auckland Live, in association with Auckland Writers Festival, proudly presents the New Zealand exclusive season of Love Stories — the critically acclaimed stage sensation by Trent Dalton, direct from standing ovations and five-star raves in Australia. This heart-expanding theatrical gem plays just five performances at The Civic, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, from Thursday 16 October to Sunday 19 October. Adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright Tim McGarry and directed by Sam Strong (the creative team behind the smash-hit page-to-stage adaptation of Boy Swallows Universe), Love Stories invites audiences into Dalton's world: a city street corner, a battered Olivetti typewriter, and a single question posed to strangers passing by - ' Can you please tell me a love story?' ' In a time when we need joy more than ever, Love Stories lifts the spirit.' - Arts Hub From strangers to soulmates, parents to children, friends to lifelong companions, the stories collected and celebrated in this remarkable production traverse the full spectrum of human love. Weaving real-life encounters with music, laughter, movement, and tenderness, Love Stories is an unforgettable tribute to the beauty, fragility, and fierce resilience of the human heart. 'It dives into the chaos of love – the joy, the pain, the laughter, the heartbreak ... sending you back to the streets feeling just a little more alive' - The Guardian Trent Dalton reflected on the production's journey from the streets of Brisbane to The Civic in Auckland: 'Early this year, the extraordinary gang from Auckland Live walked me into that hallowed Civic theatre in the heart of that glorious city. They showed me exactly what it will feel like to walk into Love Stories come showtime. The theatre ceiling literally shimmered with a blanket of stars. That theatre - that city, their writer's festival - embodies everything the play is about … community, dreams, storytelling, connection, love in all its tricky and wondrous forms. I kinda lost my mind with the joy and possibility of it all. It's a dream come true for me, to create a piece of art that adds to a history of NZ culture - theatre, books, film, music, art - that has inspired me since I was a teenage writer wannabe who could only dream of having something he wrote travelling across the ditch, all the way to paradise. Thank you Auckland Live, from the bottom of my heart. And thank you dear Auckland!' Daniel Clarke, Director of Performing Arts at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, leading Auckland Live commented: 'I saw the very first pitch of this work at idea stage and knew that it would be a winner. And it has been. Thousands of people across Australia have seen this play since its world premiere at Brisbane Festival. This is a beautiful work, full of heart and innovatively staged; we can't wait to share this stunning production with the audiences of Aotearoa. It is the perfect spring show - love will be in the air!' Love Stories was originally commissioned and produced by Brisbane Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre. The production features additional writing and story by Trent Dalton and Fiona Franzmann, with choreography by Nerida Matthaei, design by Renee Mulder, lighting by Ben Hughes, and original music and sound design by Stephen Francis. Don't miss this moving celebration of humanity, connection, and the stories that bind us. Presales are on now, ahead of the general onsale on Thu 3 July, 9 AM. With just five performances, audiences are encouraged to book tickets early to secure their seats for this strictly limited season. For more information, go to 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 entity, 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.
Scoop
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Wharenui Harikoa Welcomes Matariki 2025 At The Civic
In celebration of Matariki 2025, the nation's woollen wharenui returns to her place of origin — Tāmaki Makaurau. Wharenui Harikoa, the world's first crocheted wharenui, will open at The Civic in Auckland from 5 - 27 July – marking a powerful act of homecoming and aroha. Returning to her place of conception, creation and cultural roots is somewhat of an offering and a final gift to Aotearoa before she begins her international journey. Created by artists Lissy (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu) and Rudi Robinson-Cole (Taranaki, Ngāti Pāoa, Waikato, Ngāti Tahu/Ngāti Whaoa), the wharenui was born from a vision gifted in 2018. Crocheted with vibrant neon wool, it merges traditional Māori practices with modern technology, bringing joy, colour and connection to Aotearoa. 'This whare is aroha made physical,' says Lissy Cole. 'Stepping inside feels like entering the embrace of your kuia. It's a deeply maternal, deeply Māori experience rooted in aroha.' Presented by Auckland Live in collaboration with Lissy and Rudi, Wharenui Harikoa is a fully immersive, multi-sensory experience. Visitors are welcomed by karanga, drawn into the heart of the whare via a shifting soundscape created with taonga pūoro artist Libby Gray (Ngāti Rēhia, Ngāti Uepōhatu, Tama Ūpoko Ki Te Awa o Wanganui Me Ngāti Tūwharetoa anō Hoki) and musician Rewi McClay (Ngati Hine, Ngati Kahu). Lighting transitions from warm tones to pulses of fluro, guiding guests from the physical into the wairua realm. Every detail is intentional – each colour in the whare is described and given a te reo Māori name and vibration that supports visual and audio accessibility. The experience invites stillness, dreaming and reflection. The whare welcomes all visitors, children and kaumātua to experience the aroha of Wharenui Harikoa. To date, over 160,000 people have experienced the whare across Aotearoa. During Matariki, visitors will be invited to write their dreams at the foot of Hiwa or add to the sensory wall. These sacred hopes will be scanned and archived as a living taonga, and burned in a ceremonial release next Matariki. 'Wharenui Harikoa has become a vessel for dreaming, and healing. Connecting all people, and igniting joy globally', says Rudi Robinson-Cole. On 4 July the Sky Tower will light up marking the opening. From 5 July, the public can visit Wharenui Harikoa at The Civic. Entry is free, with donations welcomed via QR code to support more free and low-cost events presented by Auckland Live in Tāmaki Makaurau. Visitors can also register for a paid crochet workshop and free guided tours with the artists. 'We are excited to be presenting this extraordinary taonga in The Civic, where Aucklanders and visitors can experience its joy and love,' says Daniel Clarke, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director of Performing Arts, leading Auckland Live. 'We are opening the doors of The Civic, a treasured venue in Tāmaki Makaurau and inviting guests to step on stage and inside Lissy and Rudi's awe-inspiring creation, Wharenui Harikoa. While everyone will experience the Wharenui Harikoa in their own unique way it promises to be an unforgettable experience this winter. I encourage people to take part in one of the public programmes, whether it's a crochet workshop or an artist talk.'
