CSO Presents
Tūmahana
Juanita Hepi (Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke) Artistic Director — Danny Lee Syme Co-Director/Head Trainer — Mark McEntyre Designer — Mahina-Ina Kingi-Kaui Taonga Pūoro — Hamish Oliver Composer — David Kay Conductor
Tūmahana is a creative partnership between Juanita Hepi, Danny Syme, Mahina-Ina Kingi-Kaua, Hamish Oliver, the CSO and Ngai Tahu, weaving together elements of dance, aerial and visual arts, Toi Maori, Taonga Puoro, and orchestral music.
Tūmahana is based on the Ngāi Tahu story of creation as written by Matiaha Tiramorehu in 1849.
Born of Māku and Māhoranuiātea, the Sky Father Rakinui has many unions and many children. One day as he is courting Earth Mother Papatūānuku, the Sea God Takaroa arrives to find Rakinui and Papatūānuku together. Jealous, Takaroa challenges Rakinui to fight and overcomes him.
As Rakinui falls on his wife Papatūānuku, their children become sick from the lack of light and space. Rakinui tells his son Tāne to separate him from their mother Papatūānuku so that they may live healthy lives. Tane reluctantly separates his parents with the help of his siblings.
As the world of light comes to be, Tāne realises that his father is naked in the night. He sets out on a journey to find adornment for him. Along the way, he meets several characters who all play their role.
Will Tāne find something to adorn his father? Will he survive the journey? And how will he go about that?
