Transport yourself into another world at Te Hono - The Gathering as the Auckland Concert Chamber transforms into a traditional meeting house, with a contemporary edge. Gather your friends and whānau of all ages to experience some of Tāmaki Makaurau's public speakers, each special guest sharing local stories from their iwi. Heart of The City caught up with co-director of Inside Out Productions, Mike Mizrahi who is delivering Te Hono - The Gathering, about what audiences can expect from this free event.
What can audiences expect with Te Hono?
The Auckland Concert Chamber is transformed into a traditional Māori storytelling experience, with a leading-edge technological twist. Inside Out Productions and Tāmaki Makaurau orators: Rewi Spraggon (Te Kawerau a Maki), Taiaha Hawke (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei), and Pita Turei (Ngāti Paoa) will come together to produce a high impact, engaging and immersive show. At the centre of this experience sits the words and stories form our place, Tāmaki Makaurau told by the people whose ancestors lived here.
Why has the Auckland Concert Chamber been chosen as the venue for this event, in relation to Auckand’s heritage and history?
The Concert Chamber is one of Auckland’s hidden treasures. An intimate and beautiful venue, located right in the heart of the Auckland Town Hall. Te Hono means – ‘The Gathering’. The historic Auckland Town Hall has served as a meeting place since it opened over a hundred years ago in 1911. This space is designed for people to share their stories. The Concert Chamber is also a perfect size to cover in projections and completely transform, plunging people into different worlds and taking audiences on a wild journey.
How important do you think Elemental AKL will be for continuing to inform and educate the wider public on some of our most stories that have helped shape Auckland to the city it is today?
Winter is a time to go inside, traditionally a time for storytelling. Stories and the art of storytelling are very important – they connect us. It furthers our understanding of each other and our unique place in the world. There are simply so many stories here, in every suburb and street name. So many stories that we don’t know. Elemental AKL has the opportunity to share those stories with the wider community, making us more aware and more connected to each other and familiar we the place we live in.
$2 per hour to a max of $12 on weekends and a $12 flat rate for weekday evenings at The Civic car park. Find out more.