He Pūranga | Past Projects
Ode to Te Rauparaha
28 October, 4 November, 9 December 2023
Soundings THeatre, Te Papa (Oct)
Ūpane, Porirua (Nov)
Takapūwāhia, Porirua (Dec)
Theatre Marae production
Ode to Te Rauparaha is a performance about the eponymous ancestor Te Rauparaha of the Ngāti Toa Rangatira nation, a man whose leadership of his people had significant impacts on Aotearoa.
The performance is by esteemed actor Jim Moriarty, kapa haka and reo Māori expert Ihaia Ropata of Ngāti Toa and features the percussive talents of Michael Barker.
The three performers bring together spoken word, moteatea and music as a lament to Te Rauparaha and the region of Te Ūpoko o te Ika.
2023 presentation
The premiere season of Ode to Rauparaha was presented by Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira and Te Rākau Hua o Te Wao Tapu following an invitation from the Wellington Heritage Festival.
More than 400 people attended the first viewings at Soundings Theatre, Te Papa Tongarewa in October and at Ūpane, Porirua in November. Another two special performances took place at Takapūwahia Marae during the 2023 Hui-a-Tau for Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira on 9 December.