He kupu mō mātou
About Te Rākau Theatre
Te Rākau Hua o Te Wao Tapu Trust is Aotearoa New Zealand’s longest surviving independent Māori theatre company. It was established in 1989 by Jim Moriarty and Jerry Banse with a trust deed inherited from the Māori Theatre Trust.
Today, Te Rākau is led by director Jim and writer Helen Pearse-Otene. They use the unique Te Rākau Theatre Marae model to create theatre productions, run workshops and build health within our communities.
Ō mātou kōrero
Our story
As a Kaupapa Māori organisation, Te Rākau is guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the Treaty’s principles of protection, participation and partnership.
Our Theatre Marae programme is a fusion of therapeutic models, ngā mahi a Rēhia, and political theatre delivered in a kaupapa Māori environment.
We communicate and collaborate with communities to create and present high quality and socially significant theatre works which resonate culturally, therapeutically, and artistically for audience members and participants alike.
We work in schools, prisons, Marae, rural communities, and youth justice residencies across Aotearoa, using Theatre Marae as a tool for change.
Te Rākau is a registered Charitable Trust and Level 3 Ministry of Youth Development service provider.