Waiora Te Ūkaipō – The Homeland returns to the stage with a powerful story of identity, family, and belonging, written and directed by multi-award-winning Hone Kouka MNZM (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kahungunu).
Set in the summer of 1965, the play follows Hone and his whānau as they relocate from the East Cape to the South Island, hoping for a fresh start. But during a beachside birthday hāngī with Pākehā guests, long-buried secrets and cultural tensions begin to surface. Far from home, they must confront what it means to belong — and whether they can find common ground or be swept away by change.
Premiered 30 years ago at the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts, Waiora remains a landmark of Aotearoa theatre, exploring colonisation, urban migration, and the struggle between tradition and transformation. It’s a moving, resonant reflection on whānau, whakapapa, and the search for a place to stand.
A collaboration between Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, Auckland Theatre Company, Tawata Productions and Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival.
Flat fee of $7.50 per day on weekends at Fanshawe Street carpark. Find out more.
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