Conversations With Wāhine

Episode 185: Lindy Hume - The Marriage of Figaro

Lindy Hume is an Australian opera and festival director, who has worked throughout Australia and internationally.  She was born in Sydney. Her father taught primary school and also worked as a film censor. Her mother was a psychologist at the University of Sydney. Lindy was Artistic Director of West Australian Opera (1992–1996), OzOpera and Victorian State Opera (1996–2001), and Director of the Perth International Arts Festival (2004–2007). She was appointed as Director of the Sydney Festival in 2008,and led it from 2010 to 2012. As of June 2017 she is Artistic Director of Opera Queensland. Her productions for Opera Queensland included a 2014 season of Verdi's Rigoletto inspired by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. She fosters the creation and presentation of performance in regional Australia, and performances in eight regional Queensland centres of Puccini's La bohème in 2014 featured local singers in the chorus. Her freelance productions also included a season of Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride for Sydney's Pinchgut Opera, described by Hannah Cunningham of The Sydney Morning Herald as "a near perfect production". Lindy has a long association with New Zealand Opera spanning over 2 decades, having directed 8 previous operas for the company. The first opera she directed for NZ Opera was back in 2002, when she directed a highly acclaimed production of Bizet's Carmen. It was a massive success and traveled across the country, firmly cementing her relationship with New Zealand audiences. Lindy is currently in Wellington directing her 9th opera for NZ Opera: The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart’s most famous opera, playing at the St James Theatre on 17, 19 and 21st June. Further info can be found at nzopera.com [http://nzopera.com/]

Episode 184: Erika Grant - Loemis Festival

Harita interviews Erika Grant. Erika is an artist primarily working in the areas of music and costume, but loves to dabble in all sorts of different mediums. Beginning with music when she was just a wee bairn playing in orchestras and classical ensembles, since she’s become a grown up she’s played in all sorts of bands, acts and groups, including but not limited to “Orchestra of Spheres”, “Cookie Brooklyn and The Crumbs”, “Fertility Festival” and Rosie Langabeer’s “Best Most Happiest Fun Sexy Cabaret of Good Fortune and Prosperity”. She’s made music for film, theater and marching bands, and is currently creating Gong Baths for the people of Wellington. Erika is also an Astrologer and Music Teacher, and is fascinated with the ideas of shamanism, quantum physics and magic and myth. Erika is also involved in 3 Loemis festival shows this year, Night Market, The Night Crossing, and Beata Nox.

Episode 183: 5IVE (Yes, the British boyband)

Harita and her friend Jelisha were lucky enough to get an interview with British pop boyband, 5IVE, ahead of the NZ concert in May. If you haven't heard of them before, they were famous all over the world in the late 90's- early 2000's and all 5 members recently reunited for a world tour. Huge thanks to Nancy from BlackOut Music for organising this interview!

Episode 182: Mycah Keall and Brooke Wharehinga (Waenga play)

Caught in the legislative machinery of “move-on” orders, Connie, a young wahine Māori - finds herself in a police holding cell where everything is in question: her freedom, her future, and whether survival is even possible in today’s political landscape. Witnessing the inequity of Connie’s experience, her friend Peyton begins to realise what a Tangata Tiriti partnership really means, while Grayson, a young Māori lawyer, navigates a justice system that demands more than it gives.   “In today's volatile climate this play is a chance to ask – how do I make my own voice count? How do I make my vote count?” says director, Jim Moriarty.   Waenga premiered at the Kia Mau Festival in 2025 and was presented to hundreds of students in schools during 2025 and early 2026, alongside a tour with Taki Rua. In this new expanded version Te Rākau are adding their Theatre Marae flair, bringing more songs, more action and more deeply important kōrero. The lower North Island tour kicks off on 19 June in Pōneke, opening the new Wellington City Council central city arts space at 3 Market Lane, before heading to more than 17 other venues.   The play features music by Rameka Tamaki (Out the Gate) and an ensemble of eight talented actors including Hariata Moriarty (Cousins, Whakapapa), Tamati Moriarty (After the Party), Mycah Keall (Waiora), Regan Taylor (Waiora, The Maori Sidesteps), Brooke Wharehinga, Matiu Rata, Rylee Herewini, and Ryan Holtham. “I hangaia tēnei whakaari arā, ko Waenga, mā ngā rangatahi Māori kia kite ai i a rātou wheako i a rātou whakaaro hoki ki runga i te atamira.” “The show Waenga was created so that rangatahi Māori could see their voices and their experiences told on the stage.” – say Hariata and Tamati Moriarty.   A sharply prescient story of systemic violence, racism and hope, which resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds, Waenga delves into the challenges of rangatahi Māori trying to change the system, from the outside and the inside.   The marae and the theatre are both communal sites for engagement. Director Jim Moriarty describes Theatre Marae as “essentially a hui – a gathering of people to share in a whole of life experience.” During the creation of Waenga, Hariata and Tamati worked extensively with high school students to help inform their characters’ journeys, ensuring the experiences depicted felt relevant, relatable and real. A radio play of the production has been produced by Radio New Zealand, and will air on Culture101, and be available online, in June. For this tour, Te Rākau are bringing Waenga not just to the theatre, but into marae, schools, community centres, universities and more, to ensure the work can be experienced by all. “Waenga is a show that really speaks to Māori and all New Zealanders because it tackles real issues we’re facing together as a country." – Theatreview     WAENGA Book tickets at www.eventfinda.co.nz/tours-festivals/2026/waenga [https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/tours-festivals/2026/waenga] 3 Market Lane, Arts Centre, Wellington City 19 June – 5 July Aotea College, Porirua 7 – 9 July Te Tūhunga Rau, Strathmore 14 July Orongomai Marae, Upper Hutt 17 July Wainuiomata Marae, Wainuiomata 18 July Toitoi - Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre, Hastings 20 July Waitara High School, Taranaki 28 July Horowhenua College, Levin 31 July Wairarapa Events Centre, Carterton 4 August   More dates coming soon is Pahiatua, Palmerston North, Feilding, Whanganui, Ōtaki, Paraparaumu, and Te Awa Kairangi. For schools bookings contact: terakau@terakau.org [terakau@terakau.org]  Mycah Mycah Keall (Taranaki Tūturu) has worked predominantly in kaupapa Māori theatre for the last six years alongside companies Te Rākau Hua o te Wao Tapu, Tawata Productions, Kia Mau Festival and Taki Rua Productions. She has a Bachelor of Creativity from Te Auaha and has just completed a full year of full immersion Te Reo me ona Tikanga ki Te Wānanga o Raukawa. In 2021, she was awarded the Tungia Baker & Taki Rua Emerging Writers and Actors Scholarship. Mycah is dedicated to ensuring Māori voices, reo and pūrākau remain at the centre of her creative practice.     Brooke  Brooke grew up in Te Whanganui-a-tara surrounded by the performing arts and developed a deep love for them. Waenga will be her fourth production with Te Rākau, and she has had the opportunity to work across many different roles within Te Rākau as both choreographer and performer, each experience building her confidence and sense of identity.

Episode 181: Anita Lowry, RespectED Aotearoa - Sexual Harm Prevention

Anita Lowry (Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa , Ngāti Porou) is the Chief Executive of RespectEd Aotearoa, a charitable trust dedicated to an Aotearoa free from sexual violence and its harm. She has a background in union advocacy in pay equity and has contributed to kaupapa Māori and feminist organisations including Te Whare Rokiroki Māori Women’s Refuge and the Board of Wellington Rape Crisis. Anita is recognised for her leadership in the prevention of sexual violence and building safer, more equitable communities across Aotearoa.