As part of our He Toi Hou programme, Kia Mau Festival presents the new work On God from emerging artist Kaisa Fa’atui. 

Tensions rise in the afterlife as Nafanua, the Samoan goddess of War and Jesus, son of God, aim to realign the world in their own ways. In a battle to determine who is the best god to rule them all, the two descend upon Earth and uproot the lives of an already fractured family in Wellington, Aotearoa. As ideologies collide, realms get crossed and faith gets tested, will the lives of everyone involved ever be the same again? 

First appearing as a development show as part of the Six Degrees Festival in 2024, the premiere debut of ON GOD investigates Samoan religion through a modern, second-generation Pacific migrant lens. The show aims to take a deep dive into Samoan spirituality in both pre-colonial and modern contexts, from the transition of Christianity to Samoa over pre-colonial faith, to current generations in present day Aotearoa finding their connection to faith in a society becoming increasingly more secular. 

This premiering show is filled with powerful narratives that will tug at the heart-strings, ask some big questions and help you laugh the evening away. Anchored by the backdrop of modern day Wellington and a breath of music genres, from rap and hiphop to idyllic soundscapes, this epic tale aims to posit the question: What is the fate of faith in our modern age? 

Presented by the next generation of artists from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, including Writer, Director Kaisa Fa'atui, Producer Taylor-Rose Terekia with Marketing by Havea Latu of Vain Creative and Dramaturgy by Dr Nicola Hyland.

Content warnings include coarse language and haze.

For mature audiences, 16 years plus.

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.