Placeholder Productions is bringing Michaella Steels new play to the stage, Tūī Girls is set to make its premiere season at BATS Theatre as part of Kia Mau Festival’s 2025 He Toi Hou – New Works programming pou.

Nanny’s dead, the girls know this, but this doesn’t stop them from making her cups of tea. It’s not like they’re doing it for no reason – she just keeps asking for them, and there’s no way they’re gonna tell her no.

When Nan returns to spend her last few days with her beloved mokos before te rerenga wairua, the four girls are thrilled. So thrilled, in fact, that they decide to throw her a fun-eral.

However, as the dawn approaches and the closing of Nan’s coffin grows near, the four girls must come to terms with the fact that some conversations will never have an ending, while others will never begin at all.

He Toi Hou brings together the most innovative and thought-provoking contemporary Indigenous arts. This pou is a testament to the spirit of creation and offers a space for fresh, dynamic works to make their debut, allowing audiences to experience the raw power and authenticity of new voices or old voices in new ways.

Kia Mau Festival is at the forefront of contemporary Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous arts in Aotearoa and beyond. We are innovators—pushing boundaries, redefining forms, and forging new paths with creative risk-taking at every step.Right here, right now, we bring together local, national, and international artists in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. We find the intersection where our stories intertwine, creating an experience that is uniquely 'local' yet unparalleled in Pōneke throughout the year.

Kia Mau Festival offers a truly unique experience, led by Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous voices at every level—from our leadership to our artists and audiences. Unlike any other festival, we are not just a platform for presentations; we are a hub for kōrero and whanaungatanga.