Ngā Manu Rōreka

Blending te reo Māori and physical theatre, this musical production follows two students' journey to reconnect with their ancestors. Written by Apirana Taylor, translated into te reo Māori by Materoa Haenga. A Taki Rua theatre production.

A journey of learning and self-discovery
Ramai and Takimana are two troublesome yet talented junior high school students struggling with rules and boundaries, school and authority. Underneath their cool hard exterior are two students with dreams but no belief; ambition, yet no motivation.

Ramai and Takimana find the support they need from two ancestral Poupou, Waimiria and Te Ao, who by the grace of Tāne are able to return disguised as students to guide their descendants. Many lessons are learnt through trust and respect, but life’s journey is not an easy road - as Ramai and Takimana soon discover.

Audience is encouraged to be active and show their support to Ramai and Takimana as they embark on a journey of learning and self-discovery.

Taki Rua
Each year, Taki Rua produce te reo Māori children’s theatre for schools around Aotearoa — a project we call Te Reo Māori Season.

First produced in the early 1990s as a small Greater Wellington tour, Te Reo Māori Season has grown to reach thousands of primary and secondary students from a wide range of ages and comprehension levels each year.

A team of performers and theatre professionals travel the country each year performing onsite at schools, kura and community spaces.

Taki Rua — New Zealand's foremost Māori theatre company.

For updated information on COVID related changes to National Library services, exhibition hours and events check the website.

Image by Izzy Joy.