Rongopai Tickell photographed by Philip Merry
Te Reo Māori Season
Each year, Taki Rua presents a highly engaging and meaningful children's theatre show performed completely in
te reo Māori, to thousands of school-children and people of all ages throughout Aotearoa. First presented in 1995
in Wellington, Te Reo Maori Season sees a small team of performers and theatre professionals travel the length of the country with a set, costumes, props and soundscape. These lively and animated shows can be understood by people of all comprehension levels, no matter where they are on their reo Māori journey, and are performed in kura kaupapa Māori, mainstream schools and community spaces.
Our Te Reo Māori Season reflects our desire to broaden the artistic and creative horizons for all New Zealanders within a Māori story-telling context, to present more high quality kaupapa Māori and te reo Māori programmes to more people around Aotearoa New Zealand.
About our 2022 show:
Pourakahua
Written by Jeffrey Addison (Kāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa)
Join Pourakahua, a cross between human and bird, on a journey of self-discovery as they fly across the stunning landscapes of Aotearoa to find their true home, their kāika tūturu. They meet interesting friends along the way, coming to their aid while also evading the dangerous bird hunters.
In Pourakahua, our first Te Reo Māori Season production all in the Kāi Tahu mita / dialect, pūrākau from the Arowhenua rock art fly off the walls and into the minds of our tamariki.
This show was developed from a theatrical puppet show by TORO PIKOPIKO PUPPETS, and was inspired by real Kāi Tahu rock art in Timaru, Te Waipounamu, and the many tribal narratives of Pourakahua.
He Mihi:
Performers: Rongopai Tickell, Amanda Noblett,
Reuben Butler, J.R. Ballantyne
Intern / Understudy: Te Okanga Huata-Wagner
Stage Manager: Jacob Banks
Writer: Jeffrey Addison
Director: Regan Taylor
Script Translators: Edwin Wikatene & Jeffrey Addison
with support from Karuna Thurlow and Darren Solomon
Translations & Script Proofing: Matatū Consultancy
Set Designer: Taupuruariki Brightwell
Costume Designer: Cara-Louise Waretini
Sound Designer: Maaka McGregor
Photographer: Philip Merry
Guidance: Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu,
Te Ana Rock Art Centre
Special thanks to: Erina Daniels, Shania Bailey-Edmonds,
Amanda Noblett, Ngahiriwa Rauhina, Mapihi Kelland,
Isaac Morris.
Mō te whakaari:
Pourakahua
Nā Jeffrey Addison (Kāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa)
Whai mai i a Pourakahua, he momorua tangata, manu hoki, i tōna haerenga motuhake ki ngā tōpito ataahua o Aotearoa. Ka tūtaki ia i ētahi hoa hou i a ia e āwhina ana i a ratou ki te huna, ki te karo atu i ngā Kaitaomanu.
Koinei te tau tuatahi kua whai te katoa o te whakaari i te mita o Kāi Tahu, otirā te tūhura i ngā pūrakau toka toi o Arowhenua e rērere ana i ngā pakitara o te ana, kia kapohia te ngākau taitamariki.
I waihanga tēnei whakaari mai i te whakaari karetao nā TORO PIKOPIKO PUPPETS, e whakamana i ngā toka toi tūturu o Kāi Tahu, i Timaru, ki te Wai Pounamu, otirā ngā kōrero-ā-iwi o Pourakahua.
He Mihi:
Kaiwhakaari: Rongopai Tickell, Amanda Noblett,
Reuben Butler, J.R. Ballantyne
Ākoka Rāroto, Piki: Te Okanga Huata-Wagner
Kaiwhakahaere Atamira: Jacob Banks
Kaituhituhi: Jeffrey Addison
Ringatohu Whakaari: Regan Taylor
Kaiwhakamāori: Edwin Wikatene & Jeffrey Addison
Nā Karuna Thurlow rāua ko Darren Solomon i tautoko
Kaiarotake: Matatū Consultancy
Kaihoahoa Pae Whakaari: Taupuruariki Brightwell
Kaihoahoa Kahu Whakaari: Cara-Louise Waretini
Kaihoahoa Oro: Maaka McGregor
Kaiwhakaahua: Philip Merry
Ngā Kaitiaki: Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Te Ana Rock Art Centre
Ngā Mihi Mīharo: Erina Daniels, Shania Bailey-Edmonds,
Amanda Noblett, Ngahiriwa Rauhina, Mapihi Kelland, Isaac Morris.
We would like to thank Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori,
Wellington City Council, Pātaka Art + Museum and all of the Pourakahua Kaitautoko.