Upsurge and Toi Ngapuhi are delighted to present an evening of spoken word at the Te Pu o Te Wheke Community Gallery in Kaikohe. This evening will feature Whangarei-based spoken word artist and tutor Manaia Tuwhare-Hoani (Ngapuhi, Ngatiwai, Ngati Tautahi) and Auckland-based actor and spoken work artist Antonio Te Maioha (Ngapuhi, Tainui). They will be joined by local artists including taitamariki from local schools who have been workshopping spoken word poetry with Manaia Tuwhare-Hoani.

Manaia Tuwhare is a spoken word poet with a passion for storytelling. She is also a mokopuna of renowned Aotearoa poet Hone Tuwhare. Manaia works for Action Education, who facilitate Spoken Word workshops in schools across Aotearoa. Her goal is to move back to Te Tai Tokerau and introduce that mahi into the kura whanui of Ngapuhi Nui Tonu.

Antonio Te Maioha is a professional actor and spoken word artist. His credits include Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess and Legend of the Seeker. He has also appeared on Shortland Street and in The Lost World. Antonio played the gladiator Barca in Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. A fluent Te Reo speaker, Antonio was a cast member of the language learning television show Korero Mai.

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