Let there be light

Nelson’s light festival Te Ramaroa is more than just about lights this year as it adds cultural performances giving locals even more of a reason to visit this year’s festival. Adrienne Matthews finds out more.

Light is important to every culture, having been part of celebrations and religious traditions for centuries. These days its magic and versatility are celebrated in unique ways through light festivals all around the world.

Thanks to a small group of Nelson artists who put on the first light festival in 2013, our city now has a much-loved biennial event that draws in over forty light artists and thousands of people.

Renamed Te Ramaroa in 2021, the name represents a beacon that honours the past, celebrates the present and holds a light to a bright and positive future.

There is no better time for a light festival than winter with its early sundown that allows families with children of all ages to coat up and experience the astonishing displays that Te Ramaroa is known for.

It celebrates the diversity of the local community and the array of skills amongst the artists and designers who continually wow the crowds with their spectacular creations.

With Matariki (the Māori New Year public holiday) being a fortnight after Te Ramaroa this year, Māori Theatre collective Te Ora Hā has chosen to create a performance during the light festival at the Refinery ArtSpace in Hardy Street to celebrate it.

Te Ora Hā was brought to life in 2011 with professional performers Donna McLeod, Maihi Barber and Gaynor Rikihana having a strong desire to bring Māori stories to the stage and celebrate important cultural events.

Donna McLeod who lives on McLeod Bennett Papakaiinga in Motueka and is of Te Āti Awa whakapapa, has a great love of performance and respect for the importance of telling stories. “My Mother’s family were musical, so I grew up knowing their reputation and at whānau gatherings saw their craft and discipline,” she says. “I also attended many huis with my grandmother and developed a love of storytelling from everything I heard.”

In 1985, Donna joined Te Ohu Whakaa ri which included Apirana Taylor and Briar Smith Grace on a New Zealand Student Union Tour of New Zealand. “I didn’t inherit my family’s singing abilities, but I discovered a gift for writing poetry and telling stories,” she says. “I had the privilege of being Whangai and carrying my Nanny’s kete. I carry the responsibility to tell our stories.”

“I love that as a country we have embraced Matariki, that our children are learning our history, especially about Parihaka, and hopefully about the Nelson Tenths”.

“To have gifted performers such as Maihi and Gaynor share a performance space and enhance the shows with their talents is true collaboration. We respectfully hold each other’s space with the spoken word, Te Reo Māori, humour, history, waiata and traditional Māori instruments. It is truly Māori theatre, and we love to bring the stories to life in a way that weaves everything together in a rich and vibrant way.”

“We are a group that is very fluid. People come to us with a range of professional abilities and talents, and it is wonderful to be able to incorporate different skills in every performance we do. It is also exciting to be able to use the technology available now to elevate the shows to even greater heights than previously and give the viewers an experience they won’t forget.”

People who have shared space with Te Oro Hā include musicians Peter Prestal, Richard Nunns, Cindy Batt, Bob Bickerton, Callum O’Leary and performers Ngarangi Marsh, Darney Takao, Niyah Takao and Keri Takao who has been their Kaikarakia and MC.

Donna is excited to be able to tie in the Matariki performances this year with Te Ramaroa. “I love the concept of Te Ramaroa bringing people out into the winter air and being mesmerized by the joy of light and texture that is created,” she says. “We shouldn’t be scared of the night as it is a joyous time, something we should reclaim. When the Matariki constellation of stars reappears in the skies above Aotearoa, I hope that families can seek them out and feel settled and grounded in the sanctuary of the night.”

The art of Ashia Te Moananui, finalist in the prestigious national 2022 Parkin Drawing Prize, will be an integral part of the performance and design creative and lighting artist Lee Woodman has contributed his skills to the multi-media performance. “What Lee has been able to do with Ashia’s work is beautiful,” says Donna. “People will truly feel the magic of Matariki.”

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Donna is thrilled with the opportunity to bring the show to a Nelson city venue. As arts co-ordinator for Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Public Library and in charge of commissioning over twenty art works to enhance that space, she has met a wide range of artisans in the Motueka and Tasman areas whose work has not been previously well-known locally. “It is great to have a relationship with a city gallery where these people’s work can be experienced.”

She is currently engaged by Te Awhina Marae supporting the revitalisation of Nga Toi Māori with Kahu Paki Paki.

“My greatest joy is seeing a renaissance of Māori culture and arts,” she says. “I feel so privileged to be living in this moment.”

Te Ramaroa | 30 June - 4 July

teramaroa.nz