KŌPŪ

Kōpū invites you into a cheeky ballad of a show, sharing the songs of our young wāhine Māori as they navigate this world – hairy nipples first – following in the footsteps of our naughty nannies from the marae (traditional houses)

Multi-talented performers weave live music, performance, poetry, and poi through a hilariously honest and no-holds-barred account of their experiences of wāhinetanga womanhood now; the day-and-night duality of being fiercely everything at once.

“A selection of thoughtful, funny, seamlessly woven and heart-grabbing vignettes.” – Lexie Matheson ONZM, Theatreview

“Kōpū is a hilarious celebration, liberation, and at times, a gut-wrenching ‘me too sis’ to wāhine…” – Candice Luke, NZ Herald

“From their initial entrance singing slick six part harmonies, resplendent in luminous lycra leggings and unapologetically loud, these wāhine will not be silenced. The patriarchy can quiet down and take a seat.”– Ruth Agnew, Flat City Field Notes

“From the first moment, it is clear that KŌPŪ is not theatre in the conventional sense. It is ceremony. It is reclamation. It is storytelling as spiritual practice.”– Kineta Knight, Chris Lynch Media

Ngakirikiri Kershaw (Kaiwhakaari) | Actor

Te Arohanui Way-Korewha (Kaiwhakaari) | Actor

Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana (Kaiwhakaari) | Actor

Jane Hakaraia (Kaiwhakahaere Whakaari) | Te Pou Theatre Producer

Te Pou Theatre is a kaupapa Māori performing arts company and venue for all that supports the presentation and development of contemporary and community performing arts locally, nationally and internationally from our home in Waitākere, Tāmaki Makaurau.

The whakapapa of Te Pou Theatre starts with our tūpuna and taonga they have passed down to us, the political movements and work of the leaders in Māori arts over the last six decades and the path they have laid for us to be able to do the mahi we do. Te Pou Theatre was named in 2015 in a collective national process where Māori artists from around the motu put forward name options which were decided on by kaumātua in the industry. Te Pou stands as a support post for Māori performing arts in Aotearoa.