Whangārei Girls' High School production 'Waiora - The Homeland' amazes Wellington audiences

The cast of "Waiora" in Wellington. Photo / Maarire Brunning Kouka

A Whangārei production has received "amazing feedback" and glowing reviews in Wellington, leaving the young performers "buzzing".

Waiora - The Homeland, written by Hone Kouka, was last year's Whangārei Girls' High School (WGHS) graduation production and was so popular it was brought back for a second season.

Now the play has wowed audiences in Wellington.

"The feedback has been amazing. We had an amazing opening night. Hone Kouka has been blown away by it. We did a performance just for him before we opened and we got halfway through and he said 'that's enough, it's incredible'," director Bill Walker said.

Sharing kōrero with the rangatahi of Waiora (Te-U-Kai-Po)

Ngā mihi o te ata e te whānau! On Monday we jumped into the rehearsal space with the crew from Waiora (Te-U-Kai-Po)! We asked them about their motivations for bringing the show all the way from Whangarei down to Te Whanganui a Tara. We urge you to see this hard-hitting and exciting work, from the rangatahi of Whangarei Girls, and and Whangarei Boys High School. JUNE 1-9 | at Hannah Playhouse, Wellington | NAU MAI, HAERE MAI! #KiaMauFestival

Posted by Kia Mau Festival on Wednesday, 30 May 2018

Waiora - The Homeland is being performed at Hannah Playhouse in Wellington as part of indigenous performing arts festival Kia Mau, which Kouka invited the group to open.

The first performance was on June 1 and the last was on Saturday night. .

"It was a huge buzz, they were on a high. It was a perfect opening night. I've done about 30 opening nights in this building and I've never had one like it. It was an incredible opening night."

Wāhine Works, a production company of the ex-WGHS students, tirelessly fundraised to take the play to the capital and struggled to come up with the full $40,000 they needed.

But because those involved saw it as a huge opportunity they were prepared to forgo payment and hoped ticket sales would allow the cast and crew to go home with some money in their pocket.

Walker said it highlighted the fact there needed to be more investment in the arts.

"I personally feel that it is nowhere near ideal that they will be the last to be paid for their effort and what they will be paid will be an absolute pittance. We, New Zealanders, are abusing our artists," he said.

Walker said while Wellington was known for the arts, Whangārei could easily have the same reputation.