As part of our He Toi Hou programme, Kia Mau Festival presents a bold and beautiful night of cabaret-style performance, where poetry meets music, dance, and song. This is Love Letterz.
Curated by poet, composer, and classical singer Cadence Chung, this vibrant event brings together four remarkable young artists, each drawing from the world of poetry to inspire something entirely their own. Expect an evening of genre-crossing creativity, raw talent, and fresh perspectives.
Experience the intricate compositions of Estella Wallace, a rising star in contemporary classical music. Be moved by the striking physicality of Weichu Huang’s dance performance. Take in the evocative verse of Joshua Toumu’a, a poetic voice full of tenderness and power. And hear the premiere of a brand-new song cycle composed and performed by Cadence Chung, set to the words of fellow poet Jackson McCarthy.
This is an interdisciplinary showcase that celebrates words not just read, but danced, sung, and lived. Fun, fearless, and accessible — whether you’re a poetry lover, music fan, or just looking for something a little different, An Evening of Poetry-Inspired Performance promises a night to remember.
A World Premiere Season join us to celebrate this new work.
Content Warning includes a PG Rating, coarse language (a few swears).
He Toi Hou – New Works brings together the most innovative and thought-provoking contemporary Indigenous performances. This pou is a testament to the spirit of creation and offers a space for fresh, dynamic works to make their debut, allowing audiences to experience the raw power and authenticity of new voices or old voices in new ways.
Creative Credits:
Cadence Chung Event Producer, Composer, Performer
Cadence Chung (she/they) is a poet, classical singer, and composer. She performs as a classical mezzo-soprano and is a presenter on RNZ Concert. Her poems have been published in Best New Zealand Poems, Landfall, Newsroom, Pantograph Punch, Starling, Sweet Mammalian, takahē, The Spinoff and Turbine / Kapohau. Her best-selling chapbook, ‘anomalia’, was released in 2022. She’s also the producer and editor of ‘Mythos: an Audio-Visual Anthology of Art by Young New Zealanders’, released in 2024. Her first full-length collection, ‘Mad Diva’, will be released in April 2025.
Estella Wallace Composer
Estella Wallace (she/her) is a Wellington-based composer studying a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Instrumental/Vocal Composition, at the New Zealand School of Music. Her passion for composition began at fourteen, inspired by her high school teachers, Michael Langdon and Jenny Morrison. A clarinet player, Estella has performed with various groups. In 2022, she won the NZCF-SOUNZ Te Reo Māori Choral Composition Competition with Ka Mate Te Reo I Te Reaka Kotahi, which was recorded by Tudor Consort and performed internationally in 2025 at the RNCM Festival in the UK.
Joshua Toumu’a Poet
Joshua Toumu’a (he/him) is a queer Pasifika poet and uni student living in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. He is the winner of the 2022 Schools Poetry Award, and has featured in Starling, Symposia, The Spinoff, Bad Apple and elsewhere.
Jackson McCarthy Librettist
Jackson McCarthy (he/him) is a poet and musician from Auckland currently studying in Wellington. He is of Maori and Lebanese descent. He was a finalist for the Schools Poetry Award 2021, and was one of the Starling micro-residents at the New Zealand Young Writers Festival 2023.
Weichu Huang Dancer
Weichu Huang is an artist living in Tāmaki Makaurau. Their writing often reflects on embodiment and joy. They love to dance more than anything else in the world.
Tihei mauri ora!
Ka mihi ki ngā uri o te whenua o Te Upoko o te ika a Māui.
E ngā haukāinga o te rohe nei, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Taranaki Whānui,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa!
Kia Mau Festival is at the forefront of contemporary Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous theatre and dance in Aotearoa and beyond. We are innovators—pushing boundaries, redefining forms, and forging new paths with creative risk-taking at every step. Right here, right now, we bring together local, national, and international artists in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. We find the intersection where our stories intertwine, creating an experience that is uniquely ‘local’ yet unparalleled in Pōneke throughout the year.
Kia Mau offers a truly unique experience, led by Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous voices at every level—from our leadership to our artists and audiences. Unlike any other festival, we are not just a platform for presentations; we are a hub for kōrero and whanaungatanga.
Our festival serves as a whare where Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists and their communities are supported throughout the creation, development, and staging of their works. By providing a nurturing environment, we empower individual artists, strengthen their capabilities, and enrich the arts sector, celebrating the diversity and talent of Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists.
With our deep understanding of the arts sector and strong relationships with artists from emerging talents to established figures, we identify those at pivotal moments in their careers or with significant projects. By including them in the Kia Mau Festival programme, we support them in taking strategic steps forward. This approach has allowed Kia Mau Festival to make a substantial impact on numerous artists and, consequently, shape the contemporary arts landscape.
Returning to Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui, Aotearoa New Zealand from 30 May – 14 June 2025. Nau mai, haramai! Nau mai, hoki mai ki te hui ahurei o Kia Mau!
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