Wednesday 19 November, 2025
“Visually stunning, well crafted, and epic in dimension and voice, this play is a clarion call for our nation to wake up to a history that is all too often ignored or suppressed.”
An extraordinary mapping of Aotearoa through the eyes of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Mahana. Her story, our history.
Creator of the acclaimed The Haka Party Incident, Katie Wolfe (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) directs this new adaptation of Witi Ihimaera’s epic tale of Tiri Mahana, a 185-year-old matriarch, from her birth at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi to present-day Aotearoa.
With award-winning actors Miriama McDowell (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi) and Nī Dekkers-Reihana (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou), audiences are invited to a play for the whole whānau where Tiri wants us all to remember that the good things, the right things in life, are worth fighting for.
Woven into a deeply emotional tapestry celebrating wāhine Māori and the emergent rangatahi who will take Aotearoa forward, Witi Ihimaera’s (Te Whānau a Kai and Ngāti Porou) extraordinary play will shine once again in this astonishing new production: a national treasure that continues to resonate across time and place.
Kua whatua ki te takapau o aroha, ka piata anō mai tēnei whakaari whakahirahira a Witi Ihimaera i tēnei whakaaturanga mīharo tuatahi, he tāonga puiaki o te motu e pāoro tonu nei ā haere ake nei.
“The production’s emotional range is staggering. It moves from grief to humour, rage to tenderness, often within the same breath. ”
Production Highlights
Costume Design in Focus
In Rehearsals
“The lighting is celestial and timeless, creating an atmosphere that feels almost otherworldly.”
In the Media
Thursday 13 November, 2025
Rapturous reviews for Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking
| NZSL-Interpreted Performance | Fri 21 Nov 7:00pm
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| Touch Tour | Sun 16 Nov 2:30pm
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| Audio-Described Performance | Sun 16 Nov 4:00pm
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| Relaxed Performance | Tue 18 Nov 7:00pm This relaxed performance is a comfortable and inclusive experience which may be especially welcomed by autistic and neurodivergent audience members. |
“Even with all the theatrical craft in the world, this stands or falls on [Miriama McDowell’s] performance. It stands. It stands mightily.”
Event and Ticketing Details
Duration
1 hour and 20 minutes.
Advisory
Includes sexual content and descriptions of violence.
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Parking
Pre-book Theatre Carpark
Take the hassle out of finding a car park. Pre-book a space at our theatre car park for only $20 - just a short walk to the theatre.
Creative Learning
TIRI: TE ARAROA WOMAN FAR WALKING by Witi Ihimaera is suitable for year levels 9 - 13, with a performance for schools on Thurs 20 Nov 11:00am. Supporting resources are available for ākonga.
Pay What You Wish
If you’ve never been to the theatre before, we have one night to give it a go risk-free. It’s first in, best seats, with the performance ticketed as General Admission. Tickets on sale at least 3 weeks before the performance.
$30 Under 30
Supported by Europcar
Discounted tickets are available in A and B reserve for any patron under the age of 30 for only $30.
Preview Performances
Save 20% on an Adult ticket for Auckland Theatre Company shows when you book see the first performances of a season before opening night.