Toi te Reo | Language Through Art at City Gallery Wellington

Celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Maori with storytelling and live performance

On Wednesday 29 July, City Gallery Wellington will be joined by a stellar line-up of musicians, writers, speakers, artists and actors for Toi te Reo. The evening event, celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Maori/ Maori Language Week, will include Tangata Korero mo Te Reo (True Stories Told Live) and a special performance by Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle) and Tola Newbury (from the film, Pa Boys).

The theme for this year’s Maori Language Week is nga matua/parents— how parents foster and nurture the language at home. This is explored through Nga Tangata Korero mo Te Reo. True Stories Told Live is the New Zealand Book Council’s version of The Moth. Storytellers have between eight and ten minutes each to speak on the theme. No notes. No readings. No questions. Just true stories that promise to inspire, entrance, and entertain. 

Toi te Reo’s storytellers include: Shannon Te Ao, whose work, two shoots that stretch far out, is currently on show at City Gallery; Te Kahureremoa Taumata, singer, songwriter and storyteller; Apirana Taylor, poet; Paora Tibble, writer and te Reo Maori translator; Suzanne Tamaki, fabric artist; Julie Noanoa and Norm Heke, 2015 LIANZA Children’s Book Award winners; Reuben Friend, curator; and the National Library’s Ati Teepa.

Following the storytelling, musician Mara TK and performance artist and actor, Tola Newbery (Pa Boys) present a new work, The Collective Prophet. This collaborative performance project incorporates movement, beats, and songs in both te Reo Maori and English.

All exhibitions will be open late for this family-friendly event along with supper treats from Zibibbo and cash bar.

Timetable:

5-10pm: Supper treats from Zibibbo and cash bar
6.30pm: Nga Tangata Korero mo Te Reo in the auditorium
8pm: The Collective Prophet performance– Mara TK with Tola Newbery.

Presented in partnership with Wellington City Council and the New Zealand Book Council.