New Tairawhiti Arts Festival Reveals First Event

New Zealand's newest arts festival, Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival, has revealed the first event in its inaugural programme.

Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival is the Gisborne region's new major festival and flagship contemporary arts and cultural event, taking place for the first time in October this year. The event celebrates what it means to be of Tair whiti and of Aotearoa.

From 4-20 October 2019, Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival will deliver more than 70 exceptional live events by over 400 performers, from both New Zealand and all over the world.

It is a rich, diverse and thoughtful arts festival which reflects and celebrates the people of Tairawhiti, and further affirms the region's strong position in the creative landscape of Aotearoa.

With a programme packed full of paid and free events taking places across the region, Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival will premiere film, theatre, music, kapa haka, dance, story-telling, experiences and fun-for-the-whole-wh nau festivities.

The inaugural Festival Director Tama Waipara says, "Anchored in T ranga-nui- -Kiwa/ Gisborne our Festival celebrates our whakapapa connections right around the coast, from P taka to M haka. This Festival will centre itself in the heart of the East Cape, but stretch its arms far and wide; globally acclaimed, proudly local and unashamedly accessible.

"We will celebrate the first stories of our whenua, and our whakapapa connections across the Pacific. We want people to know who we are and where we come from. We want to champion the stories and voices of our place amidst the most glorious backdrop of our home, Te Tairawhiti.

"When you think of the wealth of talent connected to Tairawhiti, you come to realise that our creativity as a region provides connection for all New Zealanders, both here and overseas. We see Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival as an opportunity to celebrate that.

"Tairawhiti also boasts the highest number of Te Reo Maori speakers in the country. My own personal journey with te reo Maori is deepened by living in a community where the vibrancy and potency of language flourishes.

"We're very proud of the journey we've taken so far, and even more excited to welcome people to our place in October," Waipara says.

The first show to be announced in the 2019 Tairawhiti Arts Festival is a new work by respected actor and playwright Nancy Brunning, Witi's W hine, based on excerpts and characters from Witi Ihimaera stories.

Developed and written by Brunning and produced by Ha pai Productions with the blessing, support and guidance of Witi Ihimaera and his wh nau, this new New Zealand play shines a light on the female characters in Ihimaera stories, including Pounamu, Pounamu; Waituhi; The Matriarch; Medicine Woman; Woman Far Walking; Whale Rider; Bulibasha; The Dream Swimmer; Sky Dancer and Parihaka Woman.

Brunning says, "Witi has always acknowledged that the women in his life are the reason he had stories to tell. Wahine Maori are often dumbed down for the big screen and many have their stories altered or diminished in order to bring the male characters into the spotlight. They are portrayed as leaders by default rather than by design; they are the love interest not the hero; the support role not the lead; the victim not the instigator; the destroyer not the nurturer; or are so sacred they are inaccessible.

"Our young women need honest role models and support in navigating the complex, raw and real messages they have been given about our wahine Maori. This play is about bringing forward wa hine and offering a chance for young women to come face to face with wahine Maori performers presenting a wa hine Maori worldview."

Waipara says, "This is a world premiere which honours a son of Te Tairawhiti and the women whose lives and stories he has brought to life in award-winning books, plays and films."

The full programme of events in the inaugural Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival will be announced in mid-2019.