HIHĪ - A song of place

From the forest glade of Waihīrere to the concert hall of Pōneke, the sounds of Te Tairāwhiti come to life in a celebration of te reo Māori and music.

If a place was to speak to you, what would it say? Across time Wai-hī-rere has always authored its own narration through the vitality, hihī and flow of its waters, environment and people. HIHĪ – A Song of Place draws inspiration from that authority, giving the message of this landscape through human and instrumental voices.

HIHĪ showcases some of Aotearoa New Zealand's most remarkable songbirds and kaihaka (performers) alongside members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, performing the songs of Te Tairāwhiti, operatised waiata and popular arias such as ‘Nessun Dorma’ and ‘Habanera’ performed in te reo Māori.

This one-night-only experience will be a Festival highlight.

Artist talk: Post-show, Friday, 4 March

Mai i ngā ngahere tapu o Te Waihīrere, tatū atu ki ngā hōro nunui o Pōneke, ko te reo puoro o Te Tai Rāwhiti tēnei te haramai nei. Hei whakaaturanga whakanui i te ora o te reo Māori me ngā waiata Māori. Ka kitea ētehi toki o Aotearoa, o te ao waiata, o te ao kapa haka anō hoki. Ko ngā waiata ka rangona, he mea hanga ki te kapa haka me te puoro whakaari (opera). He whakaaturanga autaia rawa atu, otirā, he mea hanga tēnei e Te Ahurei Toi o Te Tai Rāwhiti - Te Tai Rāwhiti Arts Festival.