Taakarokaro Kohao Rau - 100 Faces of Play

Reawakening the Inner Child Through Taakarokaro

Whakaako taakaro – Tii Ringa – Tii Raakau – He muka taura he muka Tangata

Learn traditional hand games, stick games. Create woven kii, poi, taura muka and taura tangata.

 

Maatanga taakaro – play specialist, Ambrose Sarich will guide an interactive play experience. Naturally weaving traditional and contemporary matauranga – knowledge systems, to bridge the ever growing gap between the inner child – tamariki and the forgotten child – adult.

Ambrose will share his Tamaariki – Inner Child framework to shed light on the deeper aspects of Taakarokaro Kohau Rau.

 

“Ma tena taakaro ka puta noa he momo
Ma tena taakaro ka puta noa he aahua
Kei tena kohao he pukenga rau
Kei tena kohao he maaramatanga

one game will naturally unveil ancestral traits
another will bring out your personal traits
each kohao – pocket, holds one of a hundred talents
in time the player will reveal their true self”

– Ambrose Sarich

Workshop Details

Āhea | When: Saturday 21 November 2026

Kei hea | Where: Tāhū, Te Pou Theatre or outside (weather dependent)

Mō wai | For who: All ages & abilities 

Utu | Cost: Free
Roanga | Duration: 10am – 2pm (4hrs) 

What to bring: Wear comfortable clothes, be ready to move, drink bottle and good vibes

More about Ambrose Sarich

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Ambrose Sarich (Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi, Tainui) 

 

South Auckland born and bred product of the Northland. Ambrose is a proud Hokianga native who has spent the past 15 years fully immersed in all things nga taonga taakaro. 

As a Youth Educator for his Iwi over a 12 year period. Ambrose honed and fine tuned his natural ability to weave nga taakro and matauranga Maori to create unique engagements that are both informative and transformative. With his partner and co founder of Tatuu Roa Ltd Anna Maria Tripp, he continues to explore the unlimited potential of this taonga tuku iho to enhance self awareness, community, and well being.

About the Whakapuāwai Programme

The Whakapuāwai Programme at Te Pou Theatre is an annual programme offering opportunities for development and connection for the Māori performing arts community. 

Headshots with Ralph

Intimacy Workshop

Te Pou Awe Workshops

Need a great headshot but haven’t got one? Come along for 15 mins with photographer Ralph Brown. Ralph will take a few professional pics of you and send the touched up photos to you after the session for your use on your professional profiles.

Intimacy Coordination is about cultivating a safe and professional environment for the crafting of intimate content on screen and stage. This workshop will provide participants with valuable tools and language that will add to your kete & professional practice.

Bringing back our popular Te Pou Awe acting workshops for 2024, we are inviting whānau Māori of the industry to come along and have a play with some acting. Facilitated by Tainui Tukiwaho, covering the many facets of acting and what makes Māori Theatre.

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Kaitautoko | Funders

We are grateful to have various organizations, businesses and people supporting many different aspects of Te Pou. We couldn’t achieve what we have without their support. Our Whakapuāwai Programme is sponsored by the following:

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