Taki Rua / The Forge at The Court Theatre
New Zealand
A work in development from Taki Rua Productions and told in te
reo, this story tells of Poutini and Waitaiki - love, challenge and
danger and the myths of pounamu.
Every stone has a story, but none as poignant as the tale of
Tamaahua, Poutini and Waitaiki. Kidnapped by Poutini the taniwha,
the beautiful Waitaiki is held captive while her husband, Tamaahua,
is hot on their heels in pursuit. Treasured and revered for its
unique beauty, pounamu - the story of Aotearoa's iconic stone.
He ingoa taniwha a Poutini - he tipua no te ao wairua. Koia
te kaitiaki o Ngahue, te atua e kiia nei koia te atua o te pounamu.
He kōrero tēnei mō Poutini rāua ko Waitaiki. He whakaari e whakatau
ana i ngā uauatanga, ngā taero o Tūtekoropaka, a, me tēnei mea te
aroha ki te tangata. Ka ruku tātou I ngā wai i kauria ai a Poutini
ki te rapa i te kura e huna ana, arā, ko Te Pounamu.
Mai i tera ra ki naianei kei te tere haere tonu a Poutini i
te Tai Hauauru o Te Waipounamu, i a ia e tiaki nei i te tangata
whenua me te mauri o te pounamu. E mohiotia ana te Tai Hauauru o Te
Waipounamu ko Te Tai o Poutini.
He Kura E Huna Ana combines traditional Māori
performance elements with theatre in a modern re-telling of the
origins of pounamu in the Arahura River. This kōrero sees the
taonga of Māori mythology juxtaposed with a contemporary narrative
about the harsh realities of life in the present day. He
Kura E Huna Ana brings to life the Ngāti Waewae story
about Poutini (the kaitiaki of pounamu on the West Coast) and
Waitaiki and seeks to heighten awareness of mātauranga Māori,
regional cultures and histories within Aotearoa.