Te Kāhui Manu Tītī Charitable Trust and Whiria Te Ao Ltd are staging the Māori musical, Tamatea and the Tākitimu Waka at the Repertory Society Theatre.
The catalyst for the show was whānau taking part in a te reo Māori language initiative run by Whiria Te Ao — a Māori engagement consultancy company.
The multigenerational cast and crew are made up of whānau who are connected to Ngāi Tahu and northern iwi from outside the South Island.
Whiria Te Ao lead and show director Pip Hakopa said her motivation for the musical came from families who were on the journey of learning their language and wanting to find their place in te ao Māori (the Māori world).
"Through our Ngāi Tahu and mātāwaka [tribe] descendants’ programme, we have created a whakaari [musical] that explores the rich heritage of Murihiku through the story of Tamatea and the Tākitimu waka," Ms Hakopa said.
"This [musical] has enabled our whānau to learn about their history, their ties to Tamatea and it has been a really good way for mana whenua [people with authority over the land] to learn about the different iwi that live amongst them."
Ms Hakopa co-wrote the musical alongside Audra Teepa, who spearheaded the major lighting component of the production.
A special light show piece in the musical will portray how the waka was capsized by three waves.
Whānau have also lent their skills for the performance, by providing prop production and managing sound and lighting.
The show’s writers were grateful the whānau were already familiar with waiata (songs) that came from people who were from the line of the Tākitimu waka.
Ms Hakopa said it had always been her dream to produce the production.
"This is the fruition of that dream and I just want to hand the mauri [living force] over to the next iwi — to make those connections," she said.
The production coincides with Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Maori Language Week).
■ Tamatea and the Tākitimu Waka, 6.30pm, September 19, Repertory Society Theatre, Invercargill.
To find out more, email: admin@tekahuimanutiti.co.nz
