Creative Capital Podcast - Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi

Creative Capital Podcast

Creative Capital

Creative Capital is a podcast from Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi about advocacy and systems change. We’re exploring the role that arts, culture and creativity play in Tāmaki Makaurau with a focus on the people behind the work and their vision for the future. We hope these conversations are a simple way for us to come together as artists and advocates to navigate 2023 and beyond.

Music used on the podcast is the track ‘Kia rongo i te t​ā​rawa o te wai / Listen to the murmur of the water’ by Hormona Horo and Jeremy Mayall from the album AWE. You can find it here: https://aweaotearoa.bandcamp.com/album/awe

Podcast artwork by Sara Moana: https://saramoana.com/

Episode 10:

In this episode of Creative Capital Elyssia speaks with Amiria Puia-Taylor. She is a proud daughter of the Moana who has been fortunate to shape her career being creative – a people weaver, place maker and cultural arts manager. Amiria has been working across the creative industries for 18 years and she generously shares her wisdom and experience with listeners.

Episode 9:

We’re talking with Van Mei, an artist and writer based in Te Ika-a-Māui this month. They are the current Kaitohu (Director) of The Pantograph Punch, an online arts and culture platform nourishing writers and audiences for 13 years. Listen to this amazing kōrero as two artists and activists discuss the real-world relationship between arts and activism in our society.

Episode 8:

In this episode, we speak to Chantelle, Noah and Aniwa Whaiapu, part of the (real) whānau behind Te Manawa, a Māori artist-led collective focused on leading transformational change in the creative sector in Tāmaki Makaurau currently being developed by Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi.

Want to know what working collectively looks like in the arts sector? Listen to this kōrero to hear what’s being done to shift us from individual lanes to true collaborative collective practice.

Episode 7:

We talk to the hilarious and intelligent Janaye Henry this month on Creative Capital.

Janaye is a Billy T nominated comedian, actor, and host of a new show for people who don’t watch the news – 2 Cents 2 Much.

Listen in to learn about Janaye’s career, what it means to be a wāhine Māori navigating the comedy industry and how we can get more wāhine Māori in comedy.

Episode 6:

This episode, Elyssia speaks to the new Executive Director and Creative Director of Auckland Pride – Julia Croft and Nathan Joe.

Julia Croft is the newly appointed Executive Director of Auckland Pride. She is a practising performance artist whose extensive arts career has given her experience producing, working with funding bodies, and an exceptional reputation for supporting the growth of young artists. Croft’s performance works have toured Aotearoa as well as Australia, the UK, Singapore and Canada. She has worked extensively as a dramaturge, director and teaching artist across New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

Nathan Joe is the Creative Director of Auckland Pride. He is an award-winning playwright and performance poet. His many accolades include the prestigious 2022 Grimshaw Sargeson Literary Fellowship and 2021 Bruce Mason Playwriting Award, 2020 National Poetry Slam Champion and two Playmarket b425 awards. Last year, his play Scenes from a Yellow Peril had its world premiere as part of Auckland Theatre Company’s 2022 programme. Upcoming projects include his play, Losing Face, which is premiering as part of Q Theatre’s 2023 Matchbox from August 9 – 19; and the latest instalment of DIRTY PASSPORTS, a BIPOC spoken word lineup he curates, making its Christchurch premiere as part of WORD Christchurch on August 24.

Episode 5:

This episode features Zoe Black and Jade Townsend. Zoe Black (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Pākehā) is the deputy director of Objectspace in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. She has been working in galleries for the past ten years. Her curatorial practice has focused on community development and advocating for critically under-represented craft and object art forms. Jade Townsend (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) is a visual artist and storyteller working at the intersection of her Māori, Pākehā and British heritage. She runs Season Gallery in Tamaki Makaurau with Francis McWhannell. The gallery places a strong emphasis on curated exhibitions and public engagement.

Episode 4:

This episode features Brady Peeti, Brady (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpaārangi, Ngāti Maniapoto) is a pioneering, award-winning performer, who has broken down stereotypes after her recognition as the first Australasian trans actress to play a leading female role.

A graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (receiving a Bachelor of Performing Arts), Brady’s theatre credits included; Fever: Return of the Ula (Fine Fatale); Black Ties (Te Rāhia Theatre Company and Ilbijerri Theatre Company); Astroman (Auckland Theatre Company); The Wizard of Ōtāhuhu (Mangere Arts Centre) and Larger Than Life (Te Rēhia Theatre Company).

In addition to local exposure, Brady spent a month portraying (and receiving rave reviews) prostitute Lucy Harris in the 1990 musical adaptation of Jekyll & Hyde which had its run at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney.  The role has traditionally been performed by cisgender actresses.

In 2019, Brady was recognised by her peers in winning the Outstanding Newcomer Award at the Auckland Theatre Awards, something she dedicated to the encouragement and mentorship she receives as a member of the Kaupapa Māori troupe from indegenous performing arts theatre Te Pou.

Episode 3:

This episode sees Elyssia Wilson-Heti joined by Courtney Mayhew and Chelsea Winstanley, founders of Ahi Films, a new independent film distributive collective. With a focus on creative-led fresh story-telling, innovative ways to reach audiences and true collaboration, Ahi is a catalyst for filmmakers to partner with a distributor that is made for the future.

Chelsea is an Oscar nominated producer, an award winning filmmaker and has been a producer, writer and director for the past two decades.

Courtney has worked in film and television for the past 15 years in Aotearoa, Australia and abroad from production through to distribution she has worked both in house for studios and consulted independently.

Episode 2:

This episode sees Elyssia talk with the incredible Pere Wihongi (Te Rarawa, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāti Wai). Pere is a musician, composer, voice actor, choreographer, and kapa haka performer who originally comes from Herekino in Northland. As well as being a founder of the kapa haka group Angitu, Pere is also part of the award-winning music group Maimoa.

Episode 1:

Elyssia Wilson Heti is joined by Cat Ruka and Dominic Hoey, key figures in the recently formed grassroots advocacy moment DAMN (Dignity and money now).

Cat Ruka (Ngāpuhi, Waitaha) is the executive director of Auckland’s Basement Theatre. She has also worked as a choreographer, educator, artist mentor and as artistic director of Tempo Dance Festival.

Dominic Hoey is a poet, author and playwright based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Ngā Toi Advocacy Network Podcast Series:

The Ngā Toi Advocacy Network podcast is a series of conversations that were recorded 2021-2022 by the team at Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi.

The podcast features arts and culture leaders, practitioners and impact makers from the Tāmaki Makaurau creative community. These conversations weren’t produced to be podcasts. They were a series of Zoom hui discussing innovation, systems change, hauora, governance, joy – amongst other things – all while navigating the uncertain waters of an emerging pandemic. Once we looked at the whakaaro as a whole, we thought it was too powerful not to share with a wider audience. And so here we are.

Please excuse the audio quality on some of the episodes. The recordings are a little rough around the edges, but this is the nature of the work we do – we create, morph, make things fit into spaces they traditionally don’t.  Join us as we kōrero, and share insights, challenges and tribulations about life for the arts, culture and creative community, highlight the mahi and creative projects our guests are working on, and the difference they are making in the lives of their communities.

The music you hear in these episodes is a track from Te Aratoi’s Ancient Maori Music album, Piwakawaka. Kia ora for letting us use this beautiful waiata.

The Ngā Toi Advocacy Network podcast episode 1:

Amber Curreen

This kōrero is led by Amber Curreen, Kaihautū Taha Whānau at Te Pou Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau. Recorded in March 2021, she explores Te Pou Theatre’s journey discovering what it looks like to make tikanga Māori based performing arts and creating a home for this mahi.

Amber is a kaupapa-Māori focused arts manager, actor, theatre producer, developing playwright and director who leads Te Pou Theatre and Te Rēhia Theatre Company. Amber is also the Festival Director for Kōanga Festival, a festival supporting Māori playwrights to develop their works and encouraging storytelling throughout the whole community.

The Ngā Toi Advocacy Network podcast episode 2:

Borni Te Rongopai Tukiwaho

This episode, recorded in September 2021, is a kōrero from Borni Te Rongopai Tukiwaho around nurturing our hauora and wellbeing. He looks at self care from a Mana Motuhake, Tino Rangatiratanga and self autonomy perspective. He has provided a list of hauora resources that can be accessed .

Borni Te Rongopai Tukiwaho (Te Arawa/Tuhoe/Tuwharetoa) is the Auckland Fringe Festival Director, Kaiwhakahaere of Taurima Vibes and core whanau member of both Te Pou Theatre and Hobson Street Theatre Company. As well as his work in theatre, Borni is an advocate for positive social change and the role of arts in supporting wellbeing. Borni is also the current Kaiarahi for Te Ora Auaha, Creative Wellbeing Alliance Aotearoa.

The Ngā Toi Advocacy Network podcast episode 3:

Coco Solid and Lissy & Rudi Robinson-Cole

This episode features Lissy and Rudi Cole, who share a passion in life to ignite joy through their sculptural crochet art, and Jessica Hansell, aka Coco Solid, a prolific emcee, writer, artist, director and producer – and driving force behind Wheke Fortress, a soon to open gallery and community arts space in Onehunga.

Recorded in February 2022, we called it “Igniting, Sharing, and Multiplying Joy in the time of Corona.” It also features input from Jessica Palalagi, the General Manager of the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi. We hope you love it as much as we did.

The Ngā Toi Advocacy Network podcast episode 4:

Rosabel Tan

This kōrero is from February 2021 and features Rosabel Tan, author of the article, We Can Build a New Utopia: Reimagining the post-Covid ngā toi arts and culture sector in Aotearoa.

Rosabel talks about the whakapapa of the piece of writing, which came from reflections on what the future of the arts, culture and creative sector could look like as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic. You can read this piece here.

Rosabel is a writer, strategist, and creative producer of Peranakan Chinese descent. She is the director of Satellites and the founding editor of The Pantograph Punch, an arts and culture journal.

The Ngā Toi Advocacy Network podcast episode 5:

Rose Hiha Agnew and Huia O’Sullivan

This episode features Rose Hiha Agnew from Community Governance and Huia O’Sullivan from Nga Rangatahi Toa discussing what future models of governance could look like for the arts, culture and creative sector and how they are accountable first and foremost to their nannies and kuia – women who have stood before them with mana, aroha and wisdom. Recorded in July 2021.

Rose Hiha Agnew of Rongowhakaata | Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Whanganui-a-Orotu descent is the programme director for the National Action Plan for Community Governance. Rose has extensive experience in management and governance across iwi, community and governance organisations.

Huia O’Sullivan (Te Ātiawa ki Taranaki) is the Executive Director of Ngā Rangatahi Toa, a creative youth development trust that has been working with vulnerable young people and their whānau across Auckland for the last 10 years. Huia has a total of 22 years of experience in positive youth development and creating safe space for young people.

The Ngā Toi Advocacy Network podcast episode 6:

Shona McElroy and Eynon Delamere

This kōrero is led by Shona McElroy and Eynon Delamere who collaborated on the written series The Future Emerging: Innovation in arts and culture in Aotearoa alongside Chantelle Whaiapu and Jane Yonge. Recorded in April 2021 the conversation explores the collaborative approach to this mahi – looking at both mātauranga Māori and Western knowledge and challenging ourselves to think about innovation differently.

Shona McElroy (Macklemore) hails from Scotland and is passionate about helping people and organisations realise their potential to lead positive social and environmental change here in Aotearoa and the UK.

Eynon Delamere is the Pou Hononga at Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi. ​​Eynon hails from Te Whānau Ā Apanui, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Rongomai and Whakatōhea on his father’s side and Wales on his mother’s side. He has been part of the Auckland and national arts sector for over 30 years in various roles and is the Pou tikanga for Auckland Arts Festival.

The Ngā Toi Advocacy Network podcast episode 7:

Toluma’anave Barbara Makuati-Afitu and Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai

This episode features Toluma’anave Barbara Makuati-Afitu and Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai from cultural consultancy Lagi-Maama. They speak to the mahi they have been doing in collaboration with a multitude of communities across Moana Oceania on the importance of indigenous knowledge systems and how to embed those systems into mainstream consciousness.

The Ngā Toi Advocacy Network podcast episode 8:

Grayson Goffee (Taranaki, Te Ati Awa), Tanya Muagututi’a (Ulutogia and Vailuutai, Manono and Vaovai), Joe Daymond (Te Ati Awa and Navicula, Tailevu) and Tainui Tukiwaho (Te Arawa/Tuhoe/Tuwharetoa)

Elyssia Wilson-Heti (Avatele,Tamakautoga) facilitates a korero with dynamic creative practitioners and sector leaders Grayson Goffee (Taranaki, Te Ati Awa), Tanya Muagututi’a (Ulutogia and Vailuutai, Manono and Vaovai), Joe Daymond (Te Ati Awa and Navicula, Tailevu) and Tainui Tukiwaho (Te Arawa/Tuhoe/Tuwharetoa) around the importance of hauora of practitioners, being responsive to the needs of practitioners and how to foster environments that are support systems of support.
All four of these practitioners have centred the hauora of practitioners in the spaces they create and hold. In this kōrero they discuss how centering indigenous models of practice creates a more considered environment for artists to exist in. They discuss the systems change that is possible when self-determination and equity are at the heart of your practice.

This episode was captured in November 2022