Autaia 2026

2026 represented the 6th season of Autaia – an annual youth haka theatre showcase held last week (20 & 21 August) at Aotea Centre. This rangitahi-led kaupapa is presented by Hawaiki TŪ and Auckland Live (Tātaki Auckland Unlimited), which brought together almost 1000 tauira from 10 groups across Tāmaki Makaurau and Waikato to perform original, self-devised stage pieces rooted in Māori performing arts.

Autaia celebrates the creativity, leadership and storytelling of rangatahi through haka theatre works grounded in te ao haka. Each performance is conceived, written, choreographed and performed by the tauira themselves, supported by professional kaiārahi over a five- to six-week creative development process.

This year’s kaupapa, Ka Ora Tonu, reflects resilience, collective strength and the enduring spirit of our communities. Through haka, movement, waiata and theatre, rangatahi share stories that speak to their lives today while remaining connected to who they are.

Performances on Thursday 20th August:

• Auckland Girls’ Grammar School – Kahurangi ki Maungawhau (Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland)
• Kia Aroha Campus (Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland)
• Ngā Taiātea Wharekura (Waikato)
• Te Haikura-a-Kiwa (Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland)
• Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa (Waikato)

Performances on Friday 21st August:

• Hawaiki TŪ Academy – Tūmata Kōkiri (Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland)
• Ngā Puna o Waiōrea (Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland)
• Te Wharekura o Māngere (Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland)
• Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae (Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland)
• Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kōtuku (Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland).

Congratulations to all of our NPoW tauira involved and to their supervising kaiako!

We will publish photos once they become available – so please check back again soon!