E OLA MAU

E OLA MAU is a landmark gathering of local and international artists converging in Te Tai Tokerau for the region’s first large‑scale cultural exchange. This project weaves Indigenous knowledge sharing through wānanga, traditional storytelling, kanikapila, and intergenerational learning — Koe Atuhau moe tau Lotomatala. It brings together the embodied movements of Siva Afi, Hula, and Kapa Haka, forming a living tapestry of Pacific heritage.

In our Pacific worldview, the ocean does not divide us — it is the highway that connects us. Northland now has the rare opportunity to engage with two world‑class practitioners: Siva Afi experts, Hawaiian cultural practitioner as well as Polynesian performer artists.

By bringing these cultural artists into our Northland schools, we are actively weaving the threads of our Pacific family back together, revitalising ancient ties through dance, language, and whakawhanaungatanga. Your support helps our rangatahi see themselves not as isolated islands, but as part of a vast, vibrant, and powerful global village.

E OLA MAU - The proposed program.

We are still in the development phase of E OLA MAU project – the following provides an idea collaborative and interactive workshops and spaces for the Te Tai Tokerau community.

• World‑Class Performance: High‑energy Hula and Siva Afi demonstrations.

• Hands‑On Learning: Students will not only watch — they will learn foundational footwork and the deep cultural meaning behind each movement.

• Reciprocal Exchange: A dedicated space for school Kapa Haka groups to share their own mana with our visiting artists.

• Strengthening Pasifika Ties: Exploring the shared Great Ocean narratives that connect Aotearoa, Samoa, and Hawai‘i.

• Curriculum Enrichment: Exposure to global dance disciplines, rhythm, and ancestral storytelling to support the arts curriculum.

• Whakawhanaungatanga: Upholding relationships by creating opportunities for local Kapa Haka groups to engage in meaningful cultural exchange with international guests.