Various Artists with Sofia & Maya

On May 1st, 1979, a group of young Māori and Pasifika activists, He Taua, confronted a gathering of University of Auckland engineering students as they rehearsed their annual ‘mock’ haka.

Following director Katie Wolfe’s play of the same name - which travelled the country on a highly successful national tour from 2021 - the documentary uses archival and contemporary interviews with people directly involved in the incident. Sofia spoke to Katie about this largely forgotten piece of history and her filmmaking process. 

Sofia had a kōrero with writer, director, and producer of The Haka Party Incident, Katie Wolfe.

This week on Various Artists!

Sofia had a kōrero with Senior Curator of New Zealand Culture and History at Te Papa Tongarewa the Museum of New Zealand, Claire Regnault, about the inaugural exhibition of Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery, which opened last week. In light of the exhibition, she also spoke to Hunters and Collectors owner and founder, Chrissy O, about her experience collecting and selling Westwood vintage in Aotearoa.

Beth had a kōrero with tattoo artist and founder of Tāmaki Makaurau tattoo studio Two Hands, Spider Sinclaire, about Forever, a retrospective exhibition celebrating the studio’s twentieth anniversary.

And for Stage Direction this week: Jonjon Tolovae, Nikadrian Peters, and Lijah Mavaega spoke to Sofia and Beth about Mā: a devised theatre and performance poetry work that delves into themes of chosen family, motherhood, and identity coming up at Q Theatre as a part of Auckland Pride Festival. 

Whakarongo mai!

Two Hands Tattoo is a tattoo studio based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. 

Founded in 2005 by tattoo artist Spider Sinclaire, the studio is now celebrating its twentieth anniversary with retrospective exhibition Forever, showing at Studio One Toi Tū.

The exhibition presents a diverse collection of works by local and international tattoo artists, featuring artworks, paintings, drawings, photographs, posters, memorabilia and installations. This art chronicles the studio’s artistic endeavours over the past twenty years.

Spider, who travels frequently and fills regular guest spots at a variety of locations across the United States, is mostly based in Los Angeles, California. While Spider is back in Aotearoa for the exhibition, he caught up with Beth for a kōrero.

Join Beth and Sofia for the first show of 2025!

Beth had a kōrero with Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Christian Dimick about his latest exhibition Prattle Rabbit, showing at Grace Gallery until January 25th.

A new mural by Liberation Library Aotearoa has been unveiled on Edinburgh Street off Karangahape Road. In checking in with the past through the Polynesian Panthers and Black Panthers, as well as historical events like the Dawn Raids in Aotearoa, these murals speak to the current and future hopes for the well-being of Pasifika in Aotearoa. Sofia had a kōrero with Chris McBride and Tigilau Ness about the project.

For Stage Direction, Alice joins us in the studio to chat with actors Siobhan and Chris about Shakespeare in the Park 2025, taking place from Jan 18th-Feb 15th.

Listen back!