KŌPŪ

The Court Theatre | 16 – 26 July

KŌPŪ is the fierce, funny, and unapologetically powerful theatre event that celebrates the full spectrum of wāhinetanga — the essence of being a woman.

Written by Tuakoi Ohia and directed by Amber Curreen, KŌPŪ is a ground-breaking theatrical experience that fuses live music, kapa haka, poi, poetry, and raw storytelling into a vivid series of vignettes.

This riotous and heartfelt production honours the voices, experiences, and mana of Māori women — from our nannies to our nieces.  Premiered in 2023 at Te Pou Theatre, KŌPŪ was born in response to mainstream media coverage of comments made by MP Judith Collins regarding women speaking on the marae — and a desire to see wāhine Māori narratives reclaimed and voiced loudly, proudly, and creatively.

“We wanted to ask the question — who gets to speak on our behalf? Why aren’t wāhine Māori voices taking precedence?” says director Amber Curreen.

Featuring a powerhouse cast of six wāhine Māori performers — Tuakoi Ohia, Jane Leonard, Brady Peeti, Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana, Ngākirikiri Kershaw, and Te Arohanui Korewha — KŌPŪ is fearless, joyous, and unfiltered. From cheeky kōrero about “hairy nipples first” to soaring musical moments and stories that cut to the bone, this is theatre that sings, laughs, and demands to be heard.