Kia kawea tātou e te rēhia | Let us be taken by the spirit of joy, of entertainment
Nau mai, whakarauika mai!
We are delighted to invite you to apply for Takahi Te Ara Whakaari — a one-day wānanga for Māori actors or performers who are fluent speakers/matatau i te reo Māori.
This is the first in a three part pilot series of wānanga ‘Toitū Te Mana Whakaari’ supported by Ngā Aho Whakaari, funded by the NZ Film Commission, and curated by Equity NZ Board Member Miriama McDowell (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi). There will be two more workshops in the series this year, “The Actor Director Relationship” and “Auditioning in Te Ao Māori”. Whilst we have not finalised dates for these, if you are a successful candidate for te wānanga tuatahi (Takahi Te Ara Whakaari), we will be inviting you to attend both of the subsequent workshops.
Ngā taipitopito — Details at a glance
Mā wai: Actors or performers who are fluent speakers/matatau i te reo Māori. Whether you are just beginning your performing journey or have years of experience, you are welcome here. Level is not the focus. Commitment, bravery and willingness to work are.
He aha: Takahi Te Ara Whakaari — a one-day acting intensive wānanga
Āhea: Rātapu 28 o Hune / Sunday 28 June 2025, 9.30 AM – 5.00 PM
Kōhea: The Fale, Samoa House, 283 Karangahape Rd, Tāmaki Makaurau
Utu: Free. All participants not yet members of Equity NZ or Ngā Aho Whakaari will be enrolled in free memberships for both organisations (terms and conditions apply). Some travel subsidies available upon request.
Mō tēnei wānanga — About this wānanga
This wānanga is built on a simple kaupapa: your reo and your cultural foundations are not separate from your craft… they are the heart of it.
Informed by te ao Māori, the day draws on concepts including:
• Rēhia
• Tuakiri
• Hā
• Tūrangawaewae
Through practical exercises, participants will work on performance under pressure, deep connection to scene, and the technical demands of both screen and stage. Rather than treating culture and craft as separate disciplines, you will be challenged to let your cultural identity drive truthful, disciplined work.
This is not a passive or introductory session. It is a working room. The expectation is that you show up ready to engage, take direction, and push beyond surface-level choices. Spaces are limited, and the mahi will be real.
Kaiako — Led by Te Kohe Tuhaka
Te Kohe Tuhaka is an acclaimed actor and producer of Ngāti Porou and Ngāi Tūhoe descent, whose career spans powerful screen storytelling in Aotearoa and internationally.
Most recently he appeared alongside Jason Momoa in Apple TV+’s Chief of War and starred in Kath Akuhata-Brown’s feature Kōkā. His screen credits include Lee Tamahori’s Mahana, The Dead Lands, and Great White, while his producing credits include Maunga Cassino, Devil in the Gat, and Lee Tamahori’s The Convert. In 2026 he delivered the keynote at Māoriland — a reflection of his standing not only as a performer, but as a leading voice in Māori storytelling.
Me pēhea te tono — How to apply
To apply, you will need to submit a short self-tape kōrero alongside the application form.
Self-tape: record a 1–2 minute kōrero to camera in te reo Māori. Tell us:
• What performing mahi have you done so far?
• Why do you want to attend this wānanga?
Send your self-tape via WeTransfer or as a YouTube unlisted link to mail@actorsequity.org.nz. You can also drop a USB to our office on Karangahape Road, Tāmaki Makaurau or send a DM @equitynewzealand
Apply here: https://forms.gle/29ffrrwEgRHogM3N8
The application deadline is 5pm on Monday 25 May, with spots announced on the Friday 5 June.