Poignant milestone for Q Theatre

Q Theatre and its supporters gathered alongside Tangata Whenua, including Iwi and Maori performing artists, at dawn on 4 November 2009 to bless the site of the new theatre on 305 Queen Street and celebrate the commissioning of a Maori artwork that will form an integral part of the building.

This milestone marks more than ten years of work, research, lobbying and fundraising for the mid-sized flexi-form theatre which will also house rehearsal rooms, a bar/cafe that will be open day and night, a studio (seating 120), and a functions/education space.

The Q Theatre project owes its livelihood to a strong group of supporters. The Mayor of Auckland City John Banks attended the occasion to say a few words, on behalf of Auckland City Council who are the landowner and foundation partner of the project. Also invited were major supporters ASB Community Trust and the Lottery Grants Board whose grants have enabled this project to go ahead.

Following the ceremony, a breakfast was held to announce the Maori artist, Lisa Reihana, selected to design an artwork which is dedicated to the local ancestress and dancer Rangimarie. The Rangimarie project is receiving financial support from the Auckland City Council public arts programme and Creative New Zealand, Te Waka Toi.

The commissioning of the artwork is one of the major achievements of a reference group which was formed following a hui hosted in January by Q Theatre together with Ngati Whatua o Orakei. The purpose of the hui was to make initial contact with Tangata Whenua with a view to forming a relationship and engaging long-term with Maori.

The Maori reference group (MRG) has been meeting regularly, with the initial focus of informing the design and ensuring Maori protocol is able to be carried out within the context of this theatre.

The site blessing on 4th November was held to mark the start of pre-works for the theatre. A sod turning is planned to recognise the formal start of construction in early December once final confirmation of the construction contractor is received from Auckland City Council.


The Site

In 1840 Ngati Whatua, gifted 3,500 acres of whenua to Pakeha to establish Auckland city with the hope then and now for alliance and partnership with all things to do with the city

The Q Theatre building site is located in a valley known as Horotiu. This name also refers to the stream that ran through the valley and flowed into the Waitemata harbor (Te Wai o Horotiu).

Explanation of the artwork dedication

The MRG have identified Tanerore as an Atua (Deity) for the house and Rangimarie as the Tupuna (Ancestor) for the people. The energy of Tanerore will be displayed by the use of light throughout the building. The ancestor Rangimarie was a dancer choreographer of Maunga Kiekie and Kaipara. She lived in a dramatic period of tribal conflicts and was a high born wahine of the Nga Oho tribe who was to be married into the Wai o Hua dynasty. With information of a potential assassination during her wedding ceremony, Rangimarie performed a dance that warned her people and they escaped and were cared for by Rangimarie in a nearby cave until they were able to escape back to the Kaipara area.

“The characteristics of Rangimarie are similar to the Q Theatre mission to have courage, to be unique and to strive for excellence and this has created a synergy and outcomes for the way we are working between Q Theatre and the MRG” states Stephen Bradshaw, facilitator of the MRG.

The Maori Reference Group is composed of Ngati Whatua o Orakei and Ngati Paoa members as well as Maori creative industry leaders from a range of organisations. The organisations are Nga Aho Whakaari CEO ( Maori Film & Media), Toi Maori Aotearoa Contemporary performance commissioner, Auckland City Council Community arts coordinator – Maori, Ngati Theatre Productions, Puhatioro and others. Those on the reference group are, Ngarimu Blair, Teresa Brown, Lisa Davis, Mei Hill, Nicola Kawana, Tamati Patuwai, Pita Turei, Stephen Bradshaw (Facilitator).