Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Tama ki te Tau Ihu, Ngāti Pakeha

Intern at:

Waitahi has joined Tāwhiri in a new role as Kairuruku Taiohi (Taiohi Project Coordinator).

Waitahi has completed two years in Toi Whakaari’s Acting course. In 2021 they have spent the last 7 months working in Freelance throughout the Wellington Theatre scene. They’ve had the privilege to open five theatre productions so far this year, two of which were in Indigenous lead festivals such as Putahi Festival and Kia Mau Festival. Waitahi has been in roles that span from Assistant Director to Stage Manager, Actor, Puppeteer, Producer, and Sound Designer.

One of the works Waitahi opened was their first ever development show as part of the Putahi Festival in March 2021. Waitahi was later acknowledged in the Fringe Festival Awards as 2021’s Most Promising Emerging Artist.

In their time at Toi Whakaari, Waitahi has found a burning curiosity about the Arts Sector and the western structures in which it works. More specifically, how we can develop an artist’s environment to be more sustainable, placing wellbeing (i.e. financial, physical & mental) at the core of the practice.

Waitahi is currently interested in further developing their producing and arts management practice, to support the development of indigenous works in the arts. Waitahi is excited to join the Tāwhiri whānau over this internship process.