Kahurangi – Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu
Our History
The Kahurangi Māori Dance Theatre was at the forefront of the renaissance of Māori Performing Arts in the early 1980’s.
Founded in 1983 by the late Tama Huata, ONZM, MBA (pictured to the left) and a team who shared his vision to present Māori performing arts in a dynamic and contemporary manner, Kahurangi has proudly delivered its incredible performances and workshops for four decades.
Kahurangi is based in Hastings, New Zealand in the territory of the Ngāti Kahungunu iwi (tribe) on the East Coast of the North Island.
This iwi is the third largest and covers the second largest geographical region. Through a shared ancestry Ngāti Kahungunu can trace their roots to Hawaiki in the Marquesas Islands, Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and to four tribes in Northland, Tauranga, Gisborne and the South Island of New Zealand.
Kahurangi Timeline
1983
Kahurangi is established under Te Waka Tapu o Takitimu Trust as the first Māori Dance Company operating in New Zealand.
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November 15
1984
Kahurangi National Theatre in Education school touring circuit commences in New Zealand.
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November 15
1985
Kahurangi formalises a relationship with the First Nations of Canada - T'suu T'ina Reserve, Sarcee, Calgary, Canada and Theatre in Education programmes, commencing touring throughout Canadian schools and festivals.
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November 15
1989
Kahurangi is formalised under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 as Kahurangi NZ Māori Dance Trust.
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November 15
1991
Kahurangi formalises a relationship with Bess Pruitt & Associates, an Entertainment promotion agency, and with the Theatre in Education programme, and commences touring schools throughout the United States.
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November 15
1991
Kahurangi performs at the world-famous Apollo Theatre, Harlem, New York City, a unique success.
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November 15
1991
Kahurangi collaborates with Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu in the development of a new Māori Performing Arts Certificate Programme (Level 4), being the first Māori Performing Arts Certificate qualification accredited by NZQA.
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November 15
1993
Kahurangi undertakes its 10th Anniversary National Tour of New Zealand, celebrating a decade of growth and success.
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November 15
1994
Kahurangi collaborates with Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu in the development of a new Māori Performing Arts Diploma Programme (Level 5 & 6), being the first Māori Performing Arts Diploma qualification accredited by NZQA.
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November 15
1995
Kahurangi performs with an acclaimed performance at the American Museum of Natural History, in New York City.
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November 15
1995
Kahurangi collaborates with Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu in partnership with Eastern Institute of Technology in the development of new Mäori Performing Arts Bachelor Degree programme (Level 7), being the first Māori Performing Arts Degree qualification accredited by NZQA.
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November 15
1997
Kahurangi establishes a full-time base of operations in Niagara Falls, Canada on the border with the U.S.A.
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November 15
2001
Kahurangi formalises a relationship with Malaysia NZ Business Council and commences touring in the Malaysia Tourism market promoting New Zealand businesses.
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November 15
2002
Kahurangi supports Ngāti Kahungunu iwi with inaugural Matariki celebrations as part of Māori New Year's celebrations.
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November 15
2003
Kahurangi 20th Anniversary celebrations include an international tour of Malaysia, India, Canada and the United States, presenting ‘Kahurangi Hauhake – Harvest’, a 90-minute proscenium theatre production.
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November 15
2003
Kahurangi performs at the International Festival of Sacred Arts, New Delhi, India - presented by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.
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November 15
2005
Kahurangi performs at the famed Lincoln Centre, New York City.
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November 15
2006
Kahurangi appointed the Official Cultural Ambassadors by the New Zealand Government, to welcome heads of states to NZ Parliament House.
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November 15
2006
Kahurangi collaborates with Te Matatini to support the Taikura Kaumatua programme, now known as ‘He Kura Te Tangata’.
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November 15
2007
Kahurangi collaborates with the National Waiata Māori Music Awards & Te Matatini to launch the inaugural Waiata Māori Music awards ceremony, Palmerston North.
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November 15
2008
Kahurangi launches ‘WAKA’, its multi-layered show, describing the journey across the Pacific to Aotearoa, at the Takitimu Festival, Hastings.
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November 15
2009
Kahurangi tours ‘WAKA’ across New Zealand, Australia and the United States, with a cast of 22 performers.
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November 15
2013
Kahurangi 30th Anniversary celebrations, including performances at the Hastings Municipal Theatre.
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November 15
2015
11th February - Kahurangi Rangatira / Founder - Tama Tūranga Huata passed away. ‘Mate atu he tētē kura, ara mai ra he tētē kura.’
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November 15
2015
Kahurangi presents ‘Whakaaria mai - A Biography of the late Canon Wi Te Tau Huata’, a major production established to develop new audiences in churches and on the marae.
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November 15
2016
Kahurangi launches its new and innovative dance work ‘Poi Karanema’ at the National Waiata Māori Music Awards.
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November 15
2017
Kahurangi provides leadership and assistance with the Event Management of Te Kahu o Te Amorangi: Te Matatini 2017, in collaboration with Ngāti Kahungunu iwi and Te Matatini National Committee, greatly helping that successful 5-day event.
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November 15
2018
Kahurangi secures a new relationship with Princess & Holland America cruise lines to perform as cruise ship entertainers, bringing Māori culture and performance to a new world of audiences.
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November 15
2019
Kahurangi pilots a new Ngā Toi Māori Apprenticeship programme in partnership with the NZ Ministry of Social Development.
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November 15
2020
The Global Covid-19 pandemic strikes, causing the loss of all international and national bookings as a result, with a very slow climb out of lockdown since then.
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November 15
2020
Kahurangi receives support to develop the Kahurangi Toi Ātea online platform, under the Creative NZ Adaptation programme.
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November 15
2021
Kahurangi supports the Hastings District Council through its water crisis by developing a new repertoire of works towards a new show called ‘Waiaroha’. This show is to be used as a tool for educating the community of the Hastings waters, in the context of whakapapa and Mātauranga Māori.
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November 15
2021
Kahurangi was proud to be supporting act to hugely successful NZ band Six60 for its inaugural post-Covid concert, hosted in Hastings, NZ.
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November 15
2021
Kahurangi supports Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu in its launch of Te Vānanga Are Tapere o Takitumu with Te Vaka o Takitumu - Pa Ariki & Kainuku Ariki in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. This initiative will further extend the relationship between Kahurangi and the Cook Islands.
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November 15
2021
Kahurangi played a substantial role in the inaugural Te Aratini Indigenous Conference, World Expo 2020 UAE Dubai, and provided its performance on behalf of New Zealand in the NZ Pavilion for the well-attended expo international audiences.
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November 15
2022
Kahurangi continues to provide employment pathways for graduates of Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu and supports Takitimu with the NZQA & ERO review of the ’Womb to Tomb’ education model.
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November 15
2022
Kahurangi provided cultural services to the America EA Games, through its innovative online platform.
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November 15
2023
Kahurangi celebrates 40 years
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November 10