Join us for Whakawhanaungatanga Sessions and learn some poi basics and a waiata!
These sessions are your opportunity to come together with other like minded people, learn basic poi movements as well as add a new waiata Māori to your kete right here at your whare whakaari – Te Pou. Facilitating our poi sessions will be Ariana Williams, and taking us through a waiata is manu tioriori Aleesha Tia Taua.
This is just the first announcement for the first block of whanaungatanga sessions of 2026. More details to come for our second block of sessions.
Mauri Ora!
Āhea | When: Mondays 23 & 30 Mar, 13 & 20 Apr
Wā | Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
Kei hea | Where: Te Pou Theatre, 2 Mt Lebanon Lane
Mō wai | For who: All who come are welcome!
Utu | Cost: Kore utu | Free
Roanga | Duration: 1.5hrs
Ko Te Pā Horehore te maunga
Ko Whatumā te awa
Ko Ngāi Te Kikiri o Te Rangi te hapū
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te iwi
Ko Tongariro te maunga
Ko Taupō te moana
Ko Ngāti Manunui te hapū
Ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa te iwi
Ariana (She/Her) is a kaiako and kaiwhakaari. Raised in the ethos of Kura Kaupapa Māori, this environment set her foundation in tikanga, storytelling and community. Her passion is to serve others through the diverse mediums of the whare tapere (house of entertainment). She is a graduate of Ngā Mana Whakairo a Toi, Bachelor in Māori Performing Arts from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Ariana is an experienced kaihaka and has performed with Te Rōpū Manutaki at both Regional, National and International festivals. She has engaged with many groups both local and international sharing her love of kapa haka and currently teaches Toi Haka at Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka (Unitec).
Ko Puketotara te maunga
Ko Waiti te awa
Ko Te Kawerau ā Maki te iwi
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Tiriwa te tupuna
Ko Aleesha Tia Taua ahau.
Kia Ora e te whānau! My name is Aleesha Tia Taua. I am currently working for my people with Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust as the Kaimahi Maatauranga but have always had a passion for performing arts and waiata. Everything from Kapa Haka to theatre to gigging, I love it all. I’m looking forward to contributing to a creative environment that promotes whakawhanaungatanga and waiata Māori.
The Whakapuāwai Programme at Te Pou Theatre is an annual programme offering opportunities for development and connection for the community and Māori performing artists.
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.
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:
