Kura Te Ua is a Māori performing arts practitioner, choreographer and artistic director. She specialises in kapa haka and has developed the new hybrid-form 'haka theatre'. Her company Hawaiki TŪ creates haka theatre events including in 2023 where ''Autaia'' is featuring 400 student performers.

Biography

Te Ua was born in Auckland and raised in a community of Black Power gang members in the suburbs of Glen Innes and Ōtāhuhu. Te Ua is of Te Rarawa,

Te Aupōuri Te Aupōuri is the second northernmost Māori iwi (tribal group), located north of Kaitaia, Northland, New Zealand, a region known as the Te Hiku o te Ika. The iwi is one of the six Muriwhenua iwi of the far north of the North Island. Te Reo ...

, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Te Whakatōhea and Tūhoe descent. As a teenager she joined Pounamu Huia, a performing arts training school and group. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in performing arts from the University of Auckland. In 2011 she co-founded a Māori contemporary dance and performance company, Hawaiki TŪ. In 2023 she is studying towards a PhD with Te Wharewānanga o Awanuiārangi. Te Ua is developing a new style of performance called haka theatre, drawn from traditional dance theatre and Māori performing arts. Haka theatre was first named in 2011 on a show ''Arohanui - The Greatest Love'' created by Tanemahuta Gray, Tapeta Wehi, Annette Wehi,

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and

Helen Pearse-Otene Helen Pearse-Otene is a New Zealand Māori playwright, film actor, author and psychologist. Biography Pearse-Otene grew up in South Auckland, New Zealand. She studied at Victoria University of Wellington and Toi Whakaari, and holds a master's ...

. Te Ua was a performer in this show. In June 2023 a big haka theatre event ''Autaia'' is presented at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre featuring 400 students from six schools, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kotuku, Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae, Auckland Girls Grammar (Kahurangi ki Maungawhau), Manurewa High School and James Cook High School (Te Pūkenga). Each school performs for 15-minutes. Te Ua is the creative director of ''Aitaia'' and it is co-produced with her company Hawaiki TŪ and

Auckland Live Auckland Live and Auckland Conventions, Venues & Events (ALAC), (formerly known as The Edge) presents live arts performances and events at venues across Auckland, New Zealand. ALAC presents live arts performances and events at several prominent ve ...

. It is the third year for this event to be held.

Autaia means “to be extraordinary” and this kaupapa encourages every single person involved to step into the world of haka theatre because on the other side awaits a pathway of passion, pride and unwavering self belief.’ (Kura Te Ua 2023)

Performances

* Te Matatini with Te Waka Huia (2002) Takaparawhau - performer. * ''Taurite'' (2022), Q Theatre, Auckland. A large-scale haka dance theatre performance - artistic director. Produced by Hawaiki TŪ. * M9, ''He toi whakairo, he mana tangata - without Māori art, who are we?'' (6 Jul 2023), Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre,

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, Auckland. Presenting alongside Stacey Morrison (MC),

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, Troy Kingi, Cilla Ruha,

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, Dr Kiri Tamihere, Peata Melbourne and Bailey Mackey. * Te Matatini with Te Waka Huia (2023), Auckland - performer. * ''Kōpū'', directed by Amber Cureen, Te Pou Theatre (2023) - choreographer. Originally commissioned by

Auckland Arts Festival Formerly known as Auckland Festival, Auckland Arts Festival or is an annual arts and cultural festival held in Auckland, New Zealand. The Festival features works from New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia and beyond, including world premieres of new wor ...

, the 2023 premiere produced in partnership with Te Rēhia Theatre Company.

Awards and recognition

In 2013, Te Ua received the Tup Lang Choreographic Award from Creative New Zealand.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Te Ua, Kura Te Rarawa people Te Aupōuri people University of Auckland alumni Living people New Zealand choreographers New Zealand theatre people Year of birth missing (living people)