4-13 OCTOBER 2024
MIHI
Kia tangihia tonutia te mokopuna o te motu, a Kīngi Tūheitia, te uri o Porourangi, o Kahungunu kua riro i te tau nei. Ka kīia ai mate atu he tētē kura, ara mai rā he tētē kura, ko Ngā Wai Hono i Te Pō, tīhei mauriora.
In this challenging year, we acknowledge the passing of Kīngi Tūheitia, descendant of Porourangi and Kahungunu, and welcome the ascent of Ngā Wai Hono i Te Pō to the esteemed throne of her ancestors.
2024 marks the sixth year of Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival and it is a special one for us all. Our community continues to rebuild, recover and to restore our place and each other. We have seen moments of immense tragedy and the joyous unity of a community who stands together in the face of adversity and as a celebration of our own diversity. This is who we are. Ours will be a legacy of aroha, manaakitanga and kotahitanga. Our artists will continue to innovate and inspire, to lift each other up and bring light to places of darkness. Our reo will resonate across time and space as an everlasting passage through the continuum of what it means to be in Aotearoa. Toitū te reo Māori, Toitū te whenua, Toitū te Tiriti, e hika mā…Toitū ngā toi!!
We dedicate this festival in loving memory to all of those who have brought light to our lives and made us the people we are today.
Tama Waipara Chief Executive/ Artistic Director
Kia tangihia tonutia ō tātau mate nui o te wā, heoi ka whitia tātau e ngā hihi o Tamanuiterā taihoa nei ka hereherea anō e Māui. Mā ēnei kupu hoki e kawe ngā whakaaro nui ki ngā kokoru o te whenua e takoto ake nei, tau mai te mauri, haumi e, hui e! Tāiki e!.
We continue to acknowledge those who have passed on, and are grateful for the blessings that the rising sun brings forth, particularly when Māui again slows its journey across the sky. May these words provide pause for reflection and consideration to the many communities of this region we call home.
Welcome, e mihi ana.
Dr Wayne Ngata Chairperson
TE ARA I WHITI
In 2024 Te Ara i Whiti brings together an outstanding group of artists from across Aotearoa and the Pacific who are creating artworks that speak primarily of aroha, kotahitanga and hope for a generous and empowered shared future for our mokopuna
Te Ara i Whiti is an interactive visual arts experience primarily composed of illuminated installations and sculptural works that celebrate contemporary design and connections to place. In 2024 we are proud to welcome Melanie Tangaere Baldwin back as curator with collaboration and support from globally acclaimed lighting designer, Angus Muir.
Now in its sixth year, Te Ara i Whiti has grown significantly in scale and intent, with a diverse range of artistic disciplines and styles breathing life and wonderment into the experience of
sculpture. Te Ara i Whiti has become an exhibition of significance on the national arts calendar, continually showing new works by some of Aotearoa’s most celebrated artists.
“As curator of Te Ara I Whiti , I am interested in delivering an experience for our community. As an artist, I want that experience to be of the highest standard we can achieve. I want to create a place of imagining, contemplation and transition – using light, form, sound and space to create a momentary and unique other world - One that exists differently by day and night and moves between high energy and quiet contemplation, sound and silence, neon, sparkle and darkness, hardness and grace.”
— Melanie Tangaere Baldwin
EXHIBITING ARTISTS
Ngaroma Riley
Etanah Lalau-Talapa
Rihari Campbell Collier
Talia Smith
Jade Townsend
Erena Koopu
Ngaumutane Jones
Renee McDonald
Sione Monu
Melanie Tangaere Baldwin
Photo by: Canaan Akuhata-Brown
ORO MĀIA
Blending live music, poetry and performance, ORO MĀIA brings you poems by acclaimed American poet, storyteller and activist Dr Maya Angelou translated into te reo Māori.
Spoken, sung and scored by stand-out artists, Maisey Rika, Miriama McDowell, Mere Boynton, Erena Koopu, Tuakoi Ōhia and Maarire Brunning-Kouka, their powerful performances will take you on a journey through the words and worlds of discovery.
These wāhine toa invite you into their interpretations, revealing and resonating their frequencies of strength, humour, courage and wisdom – ORO MĀIA.
This concert features a captivating soundtrack of new music by Maarire Brunning Kouka interlacing contemporary soul, jazz and funk.
Experience the powerful translations of Dr. Maya Angelou’s poems by language warrior graduates from Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori Institute of Māori Language Excellence, featured in He kupu nā te māia from Kotahi Rau Pukapuka.
IMMERSE YOURSELF
IN ORO MĀIA – A SOULFUL TE REO MĀORI TRIBUTE TO THE WORDS OF DR. MAYA ANGELOU.
Credits
Directed by Ngapaki and Teina Moetara, ORO MĀIA is a collaboration between artists and artistic disciplines, worlds and worldviews.
Created in partnership by Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival and Wellington Jazz Festival in association with Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival, ORO MĀIA features new music by Maarire Brunning Kouka as a commissioned artist for the 2024 Wellington Jazz Festival.
Photo by: Erica Sinclair, Copyrighted Derek Lardelli
Photo by: Andi Crown Photography
Aotearoa’s newest Māori cabaret is huihopping to a town near you!
Join the award-winning entertainer, Rutene Spooner as he celebrates the show-band legacy, idolises the greatest Māori showman, and tussles with the future of Māori in entertainment.
Featuring the flashest southern showband -The Tekīra Mutton Birds, Be Like Billy? strums up all new and original waiata, garage party classics and old-school hits from the likes of Uncle Howie, The Prince of Jandels and Te legend, Te master, Te chuckling funnyfala.
Acknowledgements
Originally commissioned by The Court Theatre, Produced by Metro Māori Productions and presented as part of the PANNZ (performing Arts Network of New Zealand) touring programme.
THE SAVAGE COLONISER
Following on from the internationally triumphant production of Tusiata Avia’s Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, FCC theatre company brings to ferocious life the acclaimed writer’s The Savage Coloniser Book, for which she became the first female Pasifika poet to take out the Ockham Award for poetry.
With packed houses in previous seasons across Aotearoa, under the artful direction of the formidable Anapela Polata’ivao, Avia’s unapologetic examination of race and racism is full of bold humour, courage and lacerating truths. Red-sequinned dusky maidens train their sights on James Cook, Samoan school girls play an innocent game of patty-cake as they describe the atrocities on Nauru, and a Tour Guide offers instructions on how to be in a room full of white people.
Fierce, furious and fabulously unforgiving this is theatre that is as provocative as it is necessary – and a red-hot ticket you should fear missing out on.
“With characteristic savage and stylish wit, Avia holds the wordblade to our necks and presses with a relentless grace. At the end, you’ll feel your pulse anew.”
— Selina Tusitala Marsh, NZ Poet Laureate
Acknowledgements
Originally commissioned by and premiered at Auckland Arts Festival 2023 this tour is supported by Creative New Zealand, produced by FCC and presented as part of the PANNZ (Performing Arts Network New Zealand) touring programme.
Acclaimed musician and two-time APRA Maioha award winning singer/ songwriter Tyna Keelan is bringing the launch of his album ‘Otherside’ to the Lawson Field Theatre this festival season.
Keelan’s long-awaited solo album holds a collection of songs crafted with heart on sleeve that speak about hope, resilience and finding balance in life.
The album was composed on a dusty old guitar that provides the foundation of a sound steeped in acoustic soul with touches of hip hop drawn from his past experiences.
Debuting ‘OTHERSIDE’ in full he will be accompanied by his brothers in music, the Lennox Ave band.
Band Members
Tyna Keelan
James Illingworth
Johnny Lawrence
Darren Mathiassen
Kirsten Te Rito
Angelique Te Rauna.
TAIRĀWHITI MUSEUM
TOO MUCH YOU FULLAS
Curated by Maia Keane, in this exhibition she pays mihi to her hapori by inviting new and old friends to contribute to a group show; which will take place in our Main Gallery. Forming like the power rangers, this exhibition celebrates the various kūmara vines of creativity in Te Tairāwhiti.
The creative excellence displayed in our Tairāwhiti community is second to none, and through collaboration we tap into more dynamic outcomes. Me mahi tahi tātou mo te oranga o te katoa.
Featuring artists from Toihoukura, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Whirikoka, Hoea! Gallery, Haututu Lab, He Rau Aroha, Ngā Whānau o te Whare Taonga o te Tairāwhiti whanui. These artists reflect the relationships Maia has formed during her time in Tūranganui a Kiwa. Presented as a big and beautiful thank you, wrapped in a muka bow.
GISBORNE ARTISTS, POTTERS, & PHOTOGRAPHERS 2024
Each year this annual exhibition allows the local arts community and affiliated groups the opportunity to participate and display their most recent creations. This show is the pulse of local creatives, who gather in their collectives to support and devise ways of fostering a particular mode of art practice.
This major show plays host to over 50 artists year after year and often the exhibits produced number well over the one hundred mark. Three of the core groups, the artists society, potters group and the camera club repeatedly boost sub factions within and these smaller groups focus on a myriad of disciplines through workshopping and upskilling.
Image credit
Works by Erika Holden, Justine Hawksworth, Julia Rae.
MAIA GALLERY
Open from 18 September
Maia Gallery, Toihoukura
TAIAU-TAIAO
Nau Mai, Haare Mai
Te kohitahitanga o ngā ringatol o ngā
Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hawaiki Hou, Te Waiū o Ngāti Porou, me Horouta Wananga.
Image Credit
Ngāi Tauira ō TTKK ō Te Waiū under the tutelage of art teacher Te Naiti Tihema, Ruatoria, Ngāti Porou.
Toiuhukura School of Māori Visual Arts
HE RAU AROHA
He Rau Aroha, formerly known as the Te Rau Print building, has undergone a transformation, breathing new life into the walls. This remarkable space situated on Peel Street in Tūranga, serves as the whare for Te Kupenga Net Trust. Our space celebrates the rich tapestry of Māori art, history, and tradition. From stunning contemporary works to cherished taonga steeped in Mātauranga Māori, each piece tells a story of mana, reverence, and connection. Step inside and explore the vibrant hues of our taonga, where every stroke of the brush and every carved detail serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of our tipuna, of our atua.
He Rau Aroha . . . where the past meets the present in a celebration of unity and whakapapa.
Image credit
This piece is Te Kohu Nui by Noema Te Hau Ngāti Rongomaiwahine, Te Arawa, Ngāti Hikairo.
of each month He Rau Aroha Gallery, 73 Peel Street
PAPER SERIES
12pm-3pm | 6-13 October War Memorial Theatre Foyer (open to the public)
LINDAH LEPOU
New Zealand born, Samoan raised, fa’afafine.
No running water. No electricity. No support
Unqualified. Uncertified. Unbelievable.
EXHIBITION
Paper Series by Lindah Lepou is a oneoff moment, never to be repeated.
TE KAHUREREMOA
Te Kahureremoa (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tuwharetoa) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Te Whanganui ā Tara.
Her music is inspired by her māoritanga, motherhoodville and her ordinary extraordinary life. She is a practitioner of tāonga pūoro, her vibe is both ancient and futuristic. Her mission in music and performance is to feed her people and boost the mauri.
Te Kahureremoa will host workshops with kura and put on an intimate performance this festival.
PAPER KARETAO
WORKSHOP WITH NGAROMA RILEY
Join Ngaroma Riley for an interactive, whānau friendly Paper Karetao (puppet) workshop where participants are encourage to have fun. Participants will decorate their karetao in a range of mediums and leave with their beautiful creation. This is a FREE workshop suitable for all ages.
WORKSHOP WITH SIONE MONŪ
Join artist, Sione Monū, in a handson floral cloud making workshop. Participants will work with plastic florals to make cloud sculptures in the style of Monū’s experimental nimamea’a tuikakala practice (Tongan fine art of flower design). This is a FREE workshop suitable for the whole whānau.
OUR FESTIVAL WHĀNAU
Delivering a world-leading festival that connects and celebrates Te Tairāwhiti just simply could not happen without our family of partners, patrons, our board, staff and everyday people who support our kaupapa.
We’d like to give a shout out to you all for standing beside us to bring this year’s festival programme to our unique place.
Thank you for being champions of Te Tairāwhiti arts and culture – Mā whero, mā pango ka oti ai te mahi.
Our board
Dr Wayne Ngata
Mark Burlace
Karl Johnstone
Sharon Van Gulik
Our team
Tama Waipara
Edwina Ashwell
Theresa Wawatai-Smith
Rebecca Knox
Samantha Booth
Melanie Tangaere
Baldwin
Cushla Aston
Allanah Ashwell
Jane Egan
...and the many contractors, collaborators, staff and volunteers that make our festival truly special.
TE TAITUARA
Principal partners
KAITUKU PUTEA
Major Funders
HE HONONGA NGATAHI NO MUA
Legacy Partners
Patrons
Tā Derek and Lady Rose Lardelli
Michael and Anne Muir
Anonymous donors
POU TANGATA
Partners and Sponsors
OUR FESTIVAL WHĀNAU
A digital portal, where you can experience the creative abundance that exists within Te Tairawhiti...delve deeper with 3D virtual tours of our partnering galleries and their latest exhibitions.
EVENTS
4 October 5pm-10pm Te Ara i Whiti
7pm Be Like Billy?
5 October 12pm-10pm Te Ara i Whiti
10am-12pm Paper Karetao
10am-12pm Cloud Making
2pm-4pm Paper Karetao
2pm-4pm Cloud Making
Marina & Kelvin Parks
Lawson Field Theatre
Marina & Kelvin Parks
Marina & Kelvin Parks
Marina & Kelvin Parks
Marina & Kelvin Parks
Marina & Kelvin Parks
6pm Be Like Billy Lawson Field Theatre
6 October 12pm-10pm Te Ara i Whiti
Marina & Kelvins Parks 7pm Otherside Lawson Field Theatre
7 October 12pm-10pm Te Ara i Whiti
8 October 12pm-10pm Te Ara i Whiti
9 October 12pm-10pm Te Ara i Whiti
10 October 12pm-10pm Te Ara i Whiti
Marina & Kelvins Parks
Marina & Kelvins Parks
Marina & Kelvins Parks
Marina & Kelvins Parks
7pm The Savage Coloniser Show War Memorial Theatre
11 October 12pm-10pm Te Ara i Whiti
Marina & Kelvins Parks
12 October 12pm-10pm Te Ara i Whiti Marina & Kelvins Parks 7pm Oro Māia Lawson Field Theatre
13 October 12pm-10pm Te Ara i Whiti
6pm Oro Māia
Marina & Kelvins Parks
Lawson Field Theatre
14-16 October - Te Kahureremoa HOEA Gallery
EXHIBITIONS
Date Exhibition Venue
17 August – 6 October
Gisborne Artists, Potters & Photographers 2024
18 September – Taiau-Taiao
Tairāwhiti Museum
Maia Gallery, Toihoukura
6-13 October Paper Series War Memorial Theatre Foyer
See page 19 for open times - He Rau Aroha
18 October - 8 December Too Much You Fullas
Tairāwhiti Museum
BOX OFFICE
You can purchase tickets in person at Gisborne i-Site Centre or online at tetairawhitiartsfestival.nz
SCHEDULE
