From Stromboli to D’Urville Island
Martine Baanvinger returns with her powerful, passionate and dynamic solo show Red Heavens, inspired by the book Angelina by New Zealand author Gerard Hindmarsh.
Red Heavens portrays the true story of Angelina Moleta, an Italian pioneering immigrant whose fate is intertwined with the forces of nature, a bitter family feud and her deep connection with Wetekia Ruruku Elkington, a high-born Māori woman.
Written, directed & performed by Martine Baanvinger
Music & Soundscape by Mark Manson
Inspired by the book Angelina by Gerard Hindmarsh
Toitū Te Tiriti. From 10 to 19 November 2024, thousands of New Zealanders walked together from Te Heringa Wairua Cape Reinga to parliament.
Hikoi Āwhiowhio is an anthology of stories told by those from Te Tauihu who joined the Hikoi in 2024 to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand. These stories are woven together with poetry by Donna McLeod.
The journey starts at Kaiteretere beach with karakia acknowledging the Nelson Tenths and unresolved grief, following the ferry trip and plane flights across Te Moana o raukawa - Cook Strait, followed by marching and to standing before the Beehive.
These are the voices of pēpē, tamariki, rangitahi, pakeke, kaumatua, and whānau. Through waiata, haka, karakia, whiti and kōrero in Te Reo Māori, English and other languages, and taonga pūoro, their stories are told.
This is intergenerational, this is bicultural, this is multicultural, this is Aotearoa.
Presented in partnership with Nelson Festivals Trust.
R15. Contains strong language and adult themes.
The power of Māori and Pasifika literature roaring to theatrical life.
The world of Oceania is not small. From the energetic volcanoes of O’ahu to the southern reaches of Aotearoa, she is borderless and vast - and growing bigger by the day. After decades of dismissal and disconnection, her children are closer than ever. It’s time for a reunion.
UPU, 'word' in Samoan, gives the stage to some of Oceania's most electrifying poets: writers like Maualaivao Albert Wendt, Selina Tusitala Marsh, Briar Grace-Smith, Karlo Mila, Hone Tuwhare, Sia Figiel, Ben Brown - they all have a home here.
In UPU, borders disappear and the theatre becomes a sea of islands. Be transported across an ocean to hear the voices dealing with colonisation, family, climate change, love, sex, religion, power and tourists.
Performed by a stellar cast of some of the best Tagata Moana actors in Aotearoa NZ - Maiava Nathaniel Lees, Mia Blake, Fasitua Amosa, Ana Corbett, Shadon Meredith and Nicola Kāwana.
Recommended 12+, parental guidance advised. (Content includes depictions of violence and mild adult themes.)
Get ready for an unforgettable twist on Shakespeare’s Macbeth! Join us for a thrilling, saucy rendition of this classic tragedy, reimagined with a sassy, sexy bluegrass flair by award-winning theatre company, The Barden Party.
Three words: Music. Mischief. Magic.
Picture the dark, twisted tale of ambition and betrayal—now with a cheeky, bluegrass-infused soundtrack that will have you toe-tapping along to the drama. With The Barden Party’s signature blend of humour, heart, and live music, this adaptation of Macbeth transforms Shakespeare’s gripping tale into a raucous, rocking, and ridiculously entertaining performance.
From the company that brought you:
Romeo & Juliet - Winner of Best Theatre/Physical Theatre (Adelaide Fringe 2024)
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Dunedin Fringe Excellence Award 2022
Butterfly Smokescreen - The immersive superyacht experience on Seabreeze III
Don’t miss your chance to see The Barden Party’s much anticipated version of Macbeth on its opening weekend!
This indoor performance promises an evening of scandal, spirit, and Shakespeare like you've never seen before! Includes songs by artists such as: Mumford & Sons, Dolly Parton, The Steeldrivers, Hosier, Albi and the Wolves, Old Crow Medicine Show, Poor Man's Poison, Noah Kahan and more.
Book now to secure your seat for this sensational performance!
Adapted by Laura Irish
Musical Arrangements by Ollie Howlett
Directed by Laura Irish, Ollie Howlett and Wiremu Tuhiwai
Cast:
Laura Irish, Ollie Howlett, Caleb James, Tara McEntee, Criss Grueber, Emilia Higgs, Hamish Boyle
Join poet Tusiata Avia, activist Jennifer Shields and disinformation researcher Byron C Clark as they discuss both their lived experience of hatred and what we can do to protect ourselves and others. Chaired by Madeleine Chapman (editor, The Spinoff).
Disinformation is false information created with the intention of harm – which can be directed towards a person, a group or an organisation – and it’s on the rise around Aotearoa New Zealand. In this session, the panel will reveal what it’s like to be the target of disinformation and what practical steps can we all take to prevent online hate and violent extremism. Building bridges for empathy, the focus of this session will be on personal experiences rather than theories.
Presented by: Go Media
18+
Award-winning doctor and writer, Emma Espiner, discusses her stunning debut memoir, There's a cure for this, with Arihia Latham. Together they kōrero about hurt and healing, love and loss, life and death, motherhood and medicine.
From the quietly perceived inequities of her early life to hard-won revelations as a Māori medical student and junior doctor during the Covid-19 pandemic, Emma's story is a candid and moving examination of what it means to be human when it seems like nothing less than superhuman will do. Her story is an exploration of hurt and healing, love and loss, life and death, motherhood and medicine. With Latham, who is a rongoa Māori practitioner, they will also explore how incorporating te ao Māori in our healthcare system could benefit us all.
ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMME
This performance will be New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Interpreted.
To book reserved seats close to the front of the stage for a good view of the interpreter, call NCMA on 03 548 9477, or email [email protected].
Presented by: Go Media
All pukapuka will be for sale through the Festival bookstore Paper Plus Nelson, both at their shop and at their stall at Pukapuka Talks sessions - your opportunity to meet authors and get your books signed! You can also purchase books from Paper Plus online.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Witi Ihimaera’s Tangi, the first novel written by a Māori author to be published in New Zealand. Join Witi and six fellow Māori writers at this special gala event to celebrate Aotearoa storytelling: Emma Espiner (MC), Vaughan Rapatahana, Ruby Solly, Donna McLeod, Arihia Latham and Airana Ngarewa.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the first Māori novel to be published in New Zealand, and to commemorate Witi’s contribution to Aotearoa literature, Penguin Books NZ will publish two new anthologies of Māori writing this year: Te Awa o Kupu and Ngā Kupu Wero. These two passionate and vibrant anthologies, which have been edited by Witi, Vaughan Rapatahana and Kiri Piahana-Wong, feature more than 80 contemporary Māori writers.
It all started 50 years ago when Witi’s debut novel, Tangi, was published. A landmark literary event, it went on to win the James Wattie Book of the Year Award. Witi was just 29 years old at the time. Revisiting the text for this special anniversary edition, Witi has added richer details and developed the nascent themes that have continued to preoccupy him over a lifetime of writing. As part of the 50-year celebration, Penguin Books NZ has also re-released Witi's first book, the short story collection, Pounamu, Pounamu (first published in 1972).
At this special event, Emma Espiner will facilitate a kōrero with Witi and Vaughan about Māori storytelling’s upsurge in New Zealand literature, interspersed with performances by some of the contributors to the two anthologies: Emma herself, Arihia Latham, Donna McLeod, Airana Ngarewa and Ruby Solly.
All pukapuka will be for sale through the Festival bookstore Paper Plus Nelson, both at their shop and at their stall at Pukapuka Talks sessions - your opportunity to meet authors and get your books signed! You can also purchase books from Paper Plus online.
Presented by: Go Media
In this intimate korero, Hinemoa Elder will discuss her new pukapuka, Wawata – Moon Dreaming, which explores how living in sync with the moon can help us find a growing sense of place and harmony. Kōrero facilitated by Olivia Hall.
Dr Hinemoa Elder (Ngāti Kuri, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi), author of Aroha, top-selling Aotearoa non-fiction title of 2021, shows us in this new book how to reclaim intimacy with others, with ourselves and with our planet using the energies of Hina, the Māori moon goddess.
Hina has 30 different faces to help illuminate life’s lessons – a different face and a different energy for each day of the month. And with her changing light, new insights are revealed. This book gives us the chance to connect to the ancient wisdom of the old people, who reach forward into our lives, with each of the moon’s names as their offerings. Their reminders are a source of strength in our strange modern world, where we have been stripped of much of the connection and relationships we need for our wellbeing through successive lockdowns.
This book leads you through a full cycle of the moon, to consider 30 aspects of life. And lessons we thought we had learned come back around with each month's cycle and remind us of deeper layers and blind spots. And when we do find a growing sense of place, a place of harmony, there is a sense of release. A new kind of freedom starts to emerge, soothing our modern-day pain and suffering. This book is designed to open our moon dreams, for a deeper affectionate connection with ourselves and others.
NUKU Live is part of a creative and social impact storytelling movement that amplifies the voices of kickass Indigenous wāhine. Meet the book’s creator Qiane Matata-Sipu and two of the wāhine featured in the pukapuka: Dr Acushla Dee Sciascia and Puawai Cairns.
The word NUKU is derived from the atua Papatūānuku and represents the ultimate feminine essence. This women’s wānanga is about connection and collaboration, a celebration of culture, storytelling, identity and female power.
From Oscar-nominated filmmakers and award-winning musicians, to scientists, entrepreneurs, tribal leaders, artists, environmental champions, knowledge holders, mothers and more, these NUKU wāhine seek to influence the world around them. The youngest is 14 and the eldest is in her mid-70s. They are wāhine Māori, Moriori, Pasifika, Melanesian, Wijadjuri, Himalayan and Mexican.
The stunning pukapuka that celebrates their stories was shortlisted for the 2022 Ockham NZ Book Award for Illustrated Nonfiction.
In this session, Qiane Matata-Sipu (Te Waiohua ki Te Ahiwaru me Te Ākitai, Waikato, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao, Cook Islands) – who recorded the stories, photographed the wāhine and self-published NUKU – facilitates a kōrero with two of the wāhine featured in the pukapuka.
Update: Please note that unfortunately, Rachel Taulelei is no longer able to join this kōrero.
WORD Christchurch and Pukapuka Talks present this very special event to celebrate the life of the enigmatic and brilliant Keri Hulme (1947-2021), author of the bone people, with Patricia Grace, Whiti Hereaka, Marian Evans, Matt Salmons, Anna Hulme and Ariana Tikao, MCed by Becky Manawatu.
Keri Hulme’s nephew Matt Salmons, her niece Anna Hulme, her publisher Marian Evans (from Spiral Collective) and singer/composer Ariana Tikao will be joined by writers Patricia Grace and Whiti Hereaka.
They will share a piece of Hulme’s writing that has influenced them, then read a new work of their own in response, specially commissioned to commemorate her extraordinary body of work.
Marian Evans and Patricia Grace will appear via video. All other performers will appear in person.
In between readings you’ll glimpse Hulme’s life through some of her favourite songs.
NZSL Interpreted Event
This event will be New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Interpreted by a trained interpreter from Platform Interpreting New Zealand.
To book reserved seats close to the front of the stage for a good view of the interpreter, email [email protected] or call the Theatre Royal Box Office on 03 548 3840.
