Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival Whiti Season 2024

FOREWORD

Welcome to the WHITI season of Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival. WHITI is a chance for us all to put our feet up and enjoy the sampler of music and cabaret from established and emerging artists, familiar and new voices in an intimate setting. There are no wristbands or portaloo’s, it is an up close and personal exchange with some of the most exquisite and skilled performers in the country. So go on, it’s your time to shine

Tama Waipara Chief Executive/ Artistic Director

Nau mai, haere atu ēnei kupu hei kawe i ngā whakaaro o Te Waru o Rēhua e patua nei tātau e tew era o Hineraumati. Ka waiho mā ngā kupu o neherā e whakaoho i te ngākau tangata ki te wānanga toi o te tai e whitia ana e Tamanuiterā.

Greetings to you all in this, the season of Rēhua when the heat of summer is upon us. May this help draw you near to celebrate our unique place that is the Tairāwhiti, and to engage with our creative endeavours in challenging and dynamic times. Welcome, e mihi ana.

Dr Wayne Ngata Chairperson

KŌPŪ

KŌPŪ calls you in to a cheeky ballad of a show, sharing the songs of our young wāhine Māori as they navigate this world, hairy nipples first, following in the footsteps of our naughty nannies from the kāuta.

Our kāhui whetū of multi-talented performers weave live music, performance, poetry, and poi to share a hilarious honest and no hold barred account of their experiences of wāhinetanga now; The day and night duality of being fiercely everything at once.

So, kindly unpeg yourself from the patriarchy, check your white feminism at the door and join us in a hearty musical celebration of the ira Wāhine in us all.

SHE IS KŌPŪ I TE AO, PAREARAU I TE PŌ AND IF HER TEKE COULD TALK IT

WOULD SOUND LIKE THIS

KAIHOAHOA

Musical Director:

John Gibson

Lighting Designer:

Jane Hakaraia

Set Designer:

John Verryt

Sound Designer:

Paige Pomana

Costume Design: Te Ura Hoskins

Production Manager: Teiaro Taikato

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

By Tuakoi Ohia, presented in partnership with Te Rēhia Theatre

THIS FEBRUARY, LOUIS BAKER BRINGS HIS SIGNATURE SLOW-COOKED, INDIE-SOUL SOUND

TO TŪRANGANUI-A-KIWA!

Louis Baker is undoubtedly one of the most soulful voices to emerge from New Zealand’s fertile musical landscape. With a powerhouse voice that’s capable of a primal RnB scream or tear-inducing plea, and drawing from the rich traditions of soul, hiphop, and jazz music, Louis has gathered a loyal following that spans the world over.

From his self-titled first EP, all the way to his widely acclaimed 2019 debut album ‘Open’, and his most recent EP, Love Levitates - described by Rolling Stone Magazine as “luxurious funksoul”, Baker has toured the globe, gathering fans and tastemakers along the way - resulting in over 38 million Spotify streams, sold out shows and nominations for prestigious music awards including the APRA Silver Scroll Award, Taite Music Prize and Aotearoa Music Awards.

BAND MEMBERS

Vocals and guitar:

Louis Baker

Backing Vocals:

Kirsten Te Rito

Lisa Tomlins

Keys:

James Illingworth

Bass:

Johnny Lawrence

Drums:

Cory Champion

SETH HAAPU

WHAI ORA

“SPIRITUAL HEALING” — NZ LISTENER (2023)

Dive into the warmth of Pacific soul with award-winning artist Seth Haapu, a creative force of Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Atihaunui, a Pāpārangi descent. Renowned for his prolific songwriting and production, Seth has left an indelible mark on the music industry, collaborating with acclaimed artists such as Stan Walker, Maisey Rika, Sons of Zion, and Teeks.

Recipient of the prestigious ‘Kaitito Waiata Māori Autaia’ award in 2018 and the 2021 APRA Maioha Award for his collaboration with Maisey Rika, Seth Haapu continues to captivate audiences. In 2023, his latest record, ‘Whai Ora,’ earned him the esteemed Te Tohu Manu Tioriori Tāne Autaia (Best Māori Male Solo Artist) at the Waiata Māori Music Awards.

Having shared the stage with Crowded House and John Legend, Seth Haapu has graced global platforms, including

WOMAD Aotearoa and Chile. His talents have also taken him to Hawaii, Las Vegas, and his ancestral home of Tahiti.

Seth’s liquid velvet voice takes centre stage, introducing a new era of Pacific Soul. This fresh and exotic sound seamlessly blends tāonga puoro with digital production. His latest masterpiece, ‘What Ora,’ is a powerful musical journey focused on the pursuit of wellness, embodying the spirit of oranga (wellbeing) achieved through the interconnectedness of all things.

February 2, 2024, marks a momentous occasion as Seth Haapu unveils his soulstirring album, ‘WHAI ORA,’ at the Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival’s WHITI season. Immerse yourself in a coastal cruise of Polynesian falsetto, where R&B rhythms meet liquid velvet.

BAND MEMBERS

Vocals: Seth Haapu

Keys: Jireh Falaniko

Drums: Ross Nansen

Guitar: Moiho Leaupepe

Bass: Elcid Tiai

TUARI BROTHERS

E toru ngā pou nā Tāne-te-wānanga i whakatū kia noho ko Rangi ki runga, ko Papa ki raro, ā, ko te whare tuatahi tēnā nānā i hanga hai nōhanga mā mātau. Koia rā, ko te ao.

Na reira, nau mai, haere mai ki tō mātau whare. He whare e kite atu ai tō mātau ao.

This event marks the Tuari Brothers’ headline debut at the Tairāwhiti Festival and launches their first performance for 2024. In 2023, the brothers won three National Waiata Māori Music Awards. The categories were Best Te Reo Māori Album, Best Māori Songwriter and Best Song by a Māori Artist.

The Tuari brothers channel themes of cultural identity, whānau, love and life through te reo Māori lyric, rhyme and song. Since the release of their EP album titled “Rongo” funded by Te Mangai Paho, the brothers have immersed themselves in individual, whānau and hapū based projects. ‘’ The world has shifted since.”

Whakapiri mai, whakatata mai kia rongo, kia kite anō hoki i ngā reka o te whare o ngā Tuari Brothers. Join the Tuari Brothers, whānau and friends for an intimate evening of kaupapa Māori rhyme, dance and song as they trek through their award-winning te reo Māori EP “Rongo” and their favourite releases while sharing personal insights about their lives and new works under development.

7.30pm | 11

Executive Producers: Karini Quality Services & Piksies Melody Ltd

Producer: Matt Sadgrove (No Filter Studios)

Mastering:

Chris Chetland (Kog Studios)

Authors:

Ani-Piki Tuari, Tei Nohotima, Earle Karini, Tuari Brothers

Composers:

Tatana Tuari, Tame-Hoake Tuari, Hamiora Tuari

Photography:

Erica Sinclair

Music Videos:

Taktix Films

Additional Footage:

Dexter Waru and DW Group Ltd/ DW Media

MĀ

& THE FLY HUNNIES

MĀ & The Fly Hunnies are an 8 piece band from Te Whanganui-a-Tara creating safe spaces to get your groove on, shout at the oppressors & Tino Rangatiratanga.

Mixing dangerously addictive hip-hop and soulful jazz this band encapsulates the sounds of Pōneke. MĀ lures audience members in with her effortless attempts to tell the truth while also encouraging people to always take care of themselves, their people and to act always with love.

Performing all original music from MĀ’s debut album Breakfast With Hades and also tracks from her music group Iti Bubba’s ‘Idiot Check’ EP - MĀ & The Fly Hunnies create worlds of consciousness and awareness from the perspective of their generation.

BAND MEMBERS

Main Vocals: MĀ

Bass: Taranaki Ah-Young Grace

Percussion:

Ensai August

Keys: Fraser Walker

Horns: Louisa Williamson

Drums: Hikurangi Schaverien Kaa

Guitar: Maioha Hotere

Strings: Hayden Nickel

FAB DRAG

To celebrate pride month, the Tairāwhiti Museum is partnering with Tairāwhiti Rainbow Collective to present Fab Drag – an exhibition of the fabulous costumes of The Divine Joanne Neilson.

Joanne Neilson has been performing for over 40 years, with a career that has taken her around New Zealand and to Australia and the UK. Starting her career in PlayGirls revue in Auckland, then creating her group Les Belle Boys which toured New Zealand to rave reviews in the 80s – Joanne is an icon of the rainbow community.

Joanne was born in Gisborne in 1963 at Cook Hospital, she has spent the last 40 years supporting and advocating for rainbow communities. She spent decades on Youth and Rainbow support committees in Christchurch and is still regularly speaking to various groups about out Trans Communities.

The exhibition, Fab Drag, highlights the fantastic wardrobe of Joanne

throughout her performing career. Beyond performing, Joanne conceptualized and sewed many of the pieces in this collection. From handstitched crystals, to feather boas, and yards of sequins - walk through the history of drag performance with one of Aotearoa’s legendary performers.

Come see the sparkliest collection at the museum, Fab Drag, from the 9th Feb to 24th March 2024.

Rainbows, sequins, glitter galore!

Tairāwhiti Museum

HOEA! GALLERY

HOEA! is excited and humbled to present two solo exhibitions - by Ngaroma Riley and Akemi Shimada.

AKEMI SHIMADA

イカラカラ Ikarkar (to embroider)

Akemi Shimada is an Ainu elder, activist and award winning artist.

We are privileged that a selection of Akemi’s traditional hand embroidered Ainu garments on public display at HOEA!

Akemi will attend the opening of the exhibition and on Saturday February 10 at 11am will be giving a presentation on the whakapapa of her mahi and a workshop on creating Ainu embroidery patterns.

Spaces will be limited for the talk and workshop so please email hoeagallery@gmail.com to register.

NGAROMA RILEY

Portrait of an Artist as a Karetao Ngaroma Riley (Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Pākehā) is an artist, project coordinator, and people connector based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

‘Portrait of an Artist as a Karetao’ is her first solo exhibition - a collection of hand carved and painted wooden karetao (puppets).

Ngaroma will be attending the opening event on February 9 and will discuss her practice alongside her close friend Akemi Shimada.

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

Allanah Ashwell

Keporah Ashby-Allan

...and the many contractors, collaborators, staff and volunteers that make our festival truly special.

TE TAITUARA

Principal partners

KAITUKU PUTEA

Major Funders

Legacy Partners

Patrons

Tā Derek and Lady Rose Lardelli

Michael and Anne Muir

Anonymous donors

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.

LIVE DATE 09.02.2024

Tickets on sale: tetairawhitiartsfestival.co.nz

Connect with us: @tetairawhitiartsfestival