Weaving together the powerful kupu of 2026 winner of the Ockham New Zealand Book Award for General Non-Fiction Tina Makereti, and Riki Gooch-Pirihi’s visionary Rangatuone method of composing for taonga puoro and orchestral strings, Ā mua takes audiences on an immersive, intimate journey that is grounded in mātauranga Māori.

Whakapapa, taiao and Māori futurism underpin Ā mua as it spirals to form connections across time – from the elemental to social realism.

“Ki te Whai Ao, ki Te Ao Marama. Light comes into the world. Matter spirals into being. The history of humanity rolls out – longer and more fascinating and complicated than we can imagine, and you have lived many lives through it, coming into and out of being.” Tina Makereti – Ā mua

ARTISTS

Tina Makereti (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangatahi-Matakore, Pākehā) Author / Narrator

Riki Gooch-Pirihi (Ngāti Wai, Patuharakeke, Ngaati Maahanga) Conductor-Composer / Taonga Puoro

Serenity Thurlow (Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui) Viola

Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) Cello / Taonga Puoro

Al Fraser Taonga Puoro

Kiva Parsons-Pirihi (Ngāti Wai, Patuharakeke, Ngaati Maahanga) Taonga Puoro

This concert is approximately 50 minutes and does not include an interval