Taki Rua and Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts present
FNZ season of 
Hatupatu | Kurungaituku : a forbidden love

Gray's unwavering taut choreography is reflected in his dancers, both in their movements but also their stillness – The New Zealand Herald on Tiki Taane Mahuta

From one of Aotearoa’s boundary-pushing kaupapa Māori theatre companies, Taki Rua Productions, comes a captivating new aerial dance theatre work.   

Based on the Te Arawa iwi kōrero tara (legend), the FNZ Season of Hatupatu | Kurungaituku: a forbidden love takes the epic tale of Hatupatu and the bird woman Kurungaituku to new heights, with gravity defying choreography by award-winning artistic director and aerialist Tānemahuta Gray (Māui – One Man Against The Gods, Tiki Taane Mahuta).  

Placing you within the forests and geo-thermal forces of Rotorua, the story unfolds above and around you. Inspired by his experience with world-leading aerial theatre company De La Guarda, Gray recreates the bird realm, led by the omnipresent Kurungaituku. Follow the journey of young warrior Hatupatu as he encounters Kurungaituku who ensnares him in her cave. An extraordinary story of love, betrayal and sacrifice develops as Hatupatu struggles to fulfil his destiny. 

Combining breathtaking aerials, kapa haka developed in collaboration with Wētini Mītai-Ngātai (from the Te Matatini winning rōpū; Te Mātārae i Ōrehu), and an immersive multi-media set, you won’t want to miss this contemporary Māori theatre experience which will open the Festival’s new venue, the Tāwhiri Warehouse.

Age suitability: From 10 years. 

Audience Care: Please note that the audience will be standing throughout this performance. There are limited seats available to purchase for those who require them. 

Te reo: 
He mea hanga tēnei whakaaturanga e ngā toa kaiwhakaari Māori nei, e Taki Rua Productions, he whakaaturanga iritaura hou.

He whakaaturanga e pā ana ki tētehi kōrero pūrākau nō Te Arawa, arā, ko te kōrero mō Hatupatu me Kurangaituku. E kawea ana tēnei pūrākau korero ki taumata anō, mā te whakamahi i ngā nekehanga e wero nei i te autō o te ao, otirā nā te tohunga tito kanikani nei, nā Tānemahuta Gray i ārahi, nāna te whakaaturanga o Māui (one man againts the gods), ā, i whakawhiwhia ki tētehi tohu nui mō te kairangi o tēnā whakaaturanga.  

Ko te āhua o te hanga, ko te ngahere, otirā ka kitea, ka rangona te wairua o Rotorua me tōna mana Ruaimoko. Ko ngā kōrero kei te tuanui e whakaari mai ana. Whāia te haerenga a te toa nei a Hatupatu, me tāna tūtakitanga ki a Kurangaituku, te wahine nāna i mauhere ki tētehi ana.

He whakaaturanga e hono ana i te ao iritaura, me te ao kapa haka, he mea hanga i roto i te mahi tahi ki te tohunga haka, mau rākau nei, a Wētini Mītai Ngātai, te kaiārahi o te kapa haka o Te Mātārae i Ōrehu. Kei mahue tēnei whakaaturanga kairangi, ka tū ki Tāwhiri Warehouse.