Thirty years after it first premiered, Hone Kouka’s Waiora Te Ūkaipō – The Homelandreturns to the stage in a special 30th anniversary production with Auckland Theatre Company at the ASB Waterfront Theatre, 6 – 22 March, as part of Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival. Hot on the heels of its Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington season at the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, this landmark production promises a theatrical experience that is as immediate, moving, and relevant today as it was in 1996. Waiora Te Ūkaipō – The Homeland is produced by Wellington based creative company, Tawata Productions.
Set in 1965, Waiora follows Hone, who brings his whānau from the East Coast to the South Island in search of work. As they gather for a beachside birthday hāngī with their Pākehā guests, buried secrets and cultural tensions surface. Blending emotional depth, with humour, haka and waiata, this profound story explores a family far from home. Can they find a place to stand together, or will they be set adrift in an ocean of change?
Originally commissioned by the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts for its 1996 edition, Waiora explores the impact of colonisation, urban drift, and intergenerational tension. Written and directed by multi-award-winning arts laureate Hone Kouka MNZM (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kahungunu), the play is drawn from Kouka’s own story: a powerful reflection on whānau, culture, and belonging. Following its debut, Waioratoured nationally and internationally, receiving standing ovations from Wellington to Whangārei and Brighton to Honolulu. The play has inspired countless school and community productions, cementing its place as a modern classic of Aotearoa theatre.
“Our whānau moved from the East Coast, from a large Māori community, down to the Deep South. I remember my mum especially, saying it was like they’d moved to another country. They had to learn a whole new etiquette, and it was the strangest thing, being tangata whenua but feeling like immigrants. Waiora is not just a Māori story, it’s the story of many peoples of Aotearoa: it’s an immigrant story.”, says Kouka.
The emotional and cultural power of Waiora has been widely recognised. Stuff described it as “a beautifully written play that merges Greek tragedy with classic post-war plays like Arthur Miller,” while Helen Clark remarked “I only wish that more New Zealanders knew about it and were able to see it.” Kouka remembers audiences moved to tears: “I remember sitting in Whakatāne, seeing Māori men crying – bawling their eyes out. It was incredible to see the story land so deeply.”
The 2026 cast brings together a mix of established and emerging talent: Erina Daniels as Wai, Regan Taylor as Hone, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne as Rongo, RongopaiTickell as Amiria, Mycah Keall as Louise, and Antonio Te Maioha returning to play the tīpuna role he first performed in 1996. More cast members to be announced.
This production is particularly special for Maarire Brunning-Kouka, sound designer and celebrated musician, who is the child of Hone Kouka and the late Nancy Brunning, who played Rongo in the original cast. Maarire toured as a baby with the original Waiora productions, and now, 30 years later, brings her own exceptional talent to the stage – a powerful continuation of her healing process and contribution to family and artistic legacy.
Hone Hurihanganui (Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Whaoa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue) returns to the Waiora creative team for this production with waiata composition and haka. A seasoned educator, leader, and composer, Hone has written waiata and haka for numerous stage productions. He stands with an incredible creative team that includes: Hōhepa Waitoa (Assistant Director), Mark McEntyre (Set Design), Natasha James(Lighting Design), Cara Louise Waretini (Costume Design), and Mīria George(Producer).
Waiora is the first in a trilogy exploring Māori relationships with land, family, and home, followed by Homefires (1998) and The Prophet (2004). Using Te Ao Māori as its framework, it captures a pivotal moment in the history of Aotearoa history while telling a universal story of family, migration, intergenerational tension, humour, and belonging.
To ensure all audiences are welcome to come to see this work there are $20 access tickets for Relaxed, NZSL-Interpreted and Audio Described performances. Other ways to save include $30 tickets for Under 30-year-olds, supported by Europcar.
Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, Auckland Theatre Company, Tawata Productions and Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival present
Waiora Te Ūkaipō – The Homeland
Written and directed by Hone Kouka
27 February – 1 March 2026
Opera House, Wellington
Tickets and info festival.nz
6 – 22 March 2026
ASB Waterfront Theatre, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland
Tickets and info www.atc.co.nz
