Kei te tū a Ngā Taiātea Wharekura ki te whare tapere o Kiri Te Kanawa i Tāmaki Makaurau i tēnei pō, ki te whakamānawa i te toi o te Haka Theatre, e kīa ana ko Hakaari. Koinei te tau tuarua o te kura ki te whai wāhi ki tēnei kaupapa whakahirahira e para ana i te huarahi mō te hunga rangatahi ki te ao whakaari.
Ko te kaupapa nui o te mahi a ngā tauira i tēnei tau, ko te hōnore i te taonga tuku iho o te ariki. E ai ki te tauira a Tuura Rewha, “Ko tō tātou kaupapa, āe ko ngā ōhākī a Kuini Nga wai hono i te po,” hei tā Tuura Rewha, tauira o Ngā Taiātea Wharekura.
“Rua tau mātou e mahi ana i ēnei mahi. Nō reira, ehara i te mea he wheako hou ēnei ki a mātou, engari e ako tonu ana, e piki taumata ana,” hei tā Tuura anō.
“Ko ngā mahi ka riwha ana e mātou, ko te mahi waiata, ko te mahi patu, ko te mahi tū tauā me ngā mahi Māori katoa.”
Ko Autaia, i whakatūria e Kura Te Ua o Hawaiki Tū, he kaupapa kua toro atu ki ngā kura o Te Tai Tokerau me Waikato.
“Kia whai ara, kia whai huarahi ai ō tātou rangatahi, ō tātou taiohi, ka mutu, tātou te iwi Māori ki roto ki ēnei kaupapa, ki ēnei kaupapa nui whakaharahara e kaha kite ana ki te ao Pākehā me kī,” hei tā Aniwa Whaiapu, te Pou Whakahaere o Autaia.
“I ngā tau e toru kua taha ake nei, kua tino kite i te kuhunga mai o ngā kura puta atu i Tāmaki Makaurau. Ngā kura pēnei me ngā kura o Te Tai Tokerau whānui, ka mutu, i tēnei tau e kite ana i muri nei kua kuhu mai tētahi o ngā kura nō Waikato.”
“Nā Kura Te Ua tēnei kaupapa i whakarewa, hei aha, hei taumata mō ā tātou rangatahi e whai huarahi ai rātou ki roto i tēnei ao whakaari, te ao Toi, ēnei mahi o te Haka Movement me te Haka Theatre.”
Autaia and the Auckland Live Partnership
Autaia is an annual Haka Theatre showcase that serves as a vital platform for rangatahi, providing a professional pathway into the world of performing arts. By combining traditional kapa haka with contemporary theatre practices, the initiative allows students to explore their culture on a grand stage.
A significant aspect of Autaia’s success is its deep partnership with Auckland Live. This collaboration is about more than just venue hire; it signifies a shift in who has access to major cultural spaces.
The popularity of this movement is undeniable, as noted by Daniel Clarke, Director of Auckland Live:
“There is absolutely a demand growing for Haka Theatre. We’ve had to put on two shows in Kiri Te Kanawa, one of the country’s biggest theatres. So we’ve seen the demand, it’s grown time and time again and audiences love it and we love this space being filled with audiences here for Autaia.”
This enthusiasm is not just about the numbers; it is about the unique atmosphere created when Haka Theatre takes the stage. Clarke highlights the emotional impact on those who attend:
“There’s an energy, there’s a freedom of expression and there’s a real joy and pride with both the performers but also in the audience.”
Through this ongoing relationship with Auckland Live, Autaia continues to elevate the profile of Haka Theatre, ensuring that the next generation of performers has the support, the space, and the audience to share their stories with the world.
There are two shows tonight and tomorrow night. Check out the Autaia website for more information. https://www.autaia.nz/