About us \ News \ Revitalising Te Arawa stories: Whetūrangihia takes centre stage
Whetūrangihia returns to the Sir Howard Morrison Centre from 24-28 September, bringing a vibrant fusion of Kapa Haka, dance, music, and visual arts to the stage.
The second season of the acclaimed production, created by Te Whare Tapere o Te Arawa, revitalises pūrākau Māori through the lens of Matariki.
The show features the talents of rangatahi from local schools, including Rotorua Girls High School, Rotorua Boys High School, and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Koutu, offering a powerful story inspired by the journey of embracing death as a gift from Pōhutukawa, the star of remembrance.
“We are proud to bring Whetūrangihia back to the Sir Howard Morrison Centre — it’s a way to share the stories and spirit of Te Arawa with our community,” says a spokesperson from Te Whare Tapere o Te Arawa.
“Our rangatahi have poured their hearts into this production, and we’re excited to continue working alongside the Centre to elevate Māori performing arts and give our youth a platform to shine.”
Whetūrangihia was crafted to showcase not only local talent but also the rich storytelling traditions of Te Arawa, blending emotion, history, and cultural performance. The production highlights the collective creativity of the community, with rangatahi leading the way in revitalising these important stories for a modern audience.
Sir Howard Morrison Centre and Te Whare Tapere o Te Arawa have formed a partnership to support the development of local Māori performing arts, with a focus on fostering rangatahi involvement in Haka Theatre.
Through mentorship, access to high-quality technical resources, and marketing support, Te Whare Tapere o Te Arawa are able to grow as an artistic collective and reach a wider audience. In return, Te Whare Tapere o Te Arawa offers invaluable guidance on tikanga Māori, and performs at key Centre events.
Sir Howard Morrison Centre Performing Arts Director, Janelle Bish says, “The Sir Howard Morrison Centre seeks to strengthen the performing arts sector in Rotorua by supporting the development of homegrown performing arts. Our partnership with Te Whare Tapere o Te Arawa is just one of the ways we can see tangible benefit and opportunities emerging for our talented rangatahi Rotorua-based artists.”
The Sir Howard Morrison Centre is proud to support their vision as they continue to strengthen ties within the Rotorua community and share the richness of Te Arawa storytelling through the performing arts.