WEBINAR: Tākaro in the Fringes! From Drag to Dress-up, to our very own Māori Circus School

Join Wiremu (Te Hou Ora Whānau Services) and Natasha (Te Kura Maninirau) for a kōrero that’s bold, vibrant, and unapologetic, as they unpack tākaro in all its forms. From drag and dress-up, to the daring heights of a kaupapa Māori circus school. Together, they’ll bring Te Whare Tapere to life in all its colours, beyond the familiar taonga tākaro, kapa haka, and taonga pūoro — celebrating the full spectrum of play, creativity, movement and performance that has always thrived in Māori spaces.

This kōrero aims to break stereotypes, open doors, and challenge expectations about tākaro as a universal language. A space where bold individuals are elevated, where hidden whakapapa is reclaimed, and where Takatāpui identities are celebrated. Wiremu and Natasha will show how alternative forms of tākaro, whether playful, daring, and unexpected — can be a powerful vehicle for self-expression, cultural reconnection, and community empowerment.

Get ready for a kōrero full of colour, energy, and excitement, as we explore how to expand the tākaro space, honour tradition, and make room for new stories, new forms, and new ways to move, perform, and play.

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Wiremu David Edwards-Chaffey

Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri

A diva in some respects, a pōtiki in others and an enjoyer of all things that defy the typical. A mokopuna who has blossomed into a matua, rekindling a deep love for the life force that dwells within te whare tapere and toi whakaari. Based in Otepoti, the whare he lives in is alive with kapa haka, kanikani, korikori kōrero, tuitui kākahu, panoni kanohi, whakarākei makawe and more! Wiremu loves weaving all these worlds together, to create a landing ground where everyone, inside and beyond his stratosphere, can gather and sing their songs.

Te Hou Ora Whānau is an Ōtepoti-based kaupapa Māori organisation with almost fifty years of experience walking alongside whānau, building confidence, strengthening identity, and supporting aspirations. When working with whānau, it is important to also walk your own identity journey, to be hungry for your own aspirations. At Te Hou Ora Whānau, our whare ensures that those who are thirsty can drink from ngā wai tuku kiri o ōna tīpuna - the ancestral waterways. The waters I now drink from are shaped by the collaboration of Māori performing arts, drag arts (Ōtepoti Drag Directory), and the exploration of self. This journey leads to deeper connection with our truest identities.

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Natasha van Etten 

Ngāi te Rangi 

A storyteller and creative based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Natasha is passionate about creating spaces that open the arts/performing arts to people of all ages, backgrounds and histories, uniting communities through play, movement and shared experience. She currently balances full-time study with her role as Kaiwhakahaere Kura of Te Kura Maninirau, Aotearoa’s first kaupapa Māori circus school. In her mahi, Natasha seeks to ignite a love for the activities within te whare tapere. Whether through aerial movement in te ao o Ranginui or grounding, land-based movement in te ao o Papatūānuku, her world is alive with creativity, connection and joy.

Founded in 2023, Te Kura Maninirau is Aotearoa’s first kaupapa Māori circus school, dedicated to making circus arts accessible to tangata whenua through a kaupapa Māori pedagogy. Offering recreational classes for tamariki alongside professional development for creatives, the kura provides affordable, engaging, and active experiences for whānau, grounded in tikanga Māori and creating pathways for Māori into the art form. Te Kura Maninirau is a joint venture between Te Pou Theatre, the home of Māori theatre, and The Dust Palace, both of which have been training and fostering rangatahi in performance and circus arts for over 15 years. The kura is administered by The Dust Palace Charitable Trust.