Kanohi Kitea 2025

Developing ongoing whanaungatanga hui and partnerships that explore the aspirations and relationships between Toi Māori practitioners, Whare Tapere and Social Circus arts

Face to Face:

Connection Through Circus & Culture

Kanohi Kitea is a Circability initiative that brings together people with disabilities, Māori communities, and the wider public through the universal languages of circus arts and Māori cultural practices. In 2025, we celebrated three remarkable regional gatherings across Aotearoa.

Three Regions, One Kaupapa

150+ participants

A beautiful sunny day brought together youth and adults with disabilities, local schools, and the wider Phillipstown community for circus workshops, Māori games, and low aerial rigging.

Opening mihi whakatau facilitated by Kahuraki, Kerepeti, and Savanah

Ngā tākaro (Māori games) with Jacob from Te Rahi A Maui

Low aerial rig facilitated by Jenny from Move and Valentina

Open circus workshops with hub tutors

Community lunch with freshly made fry bread

Magic Moment: A non-verbal participant jumped on the mic to sing along to a Bruno Mars track during the closing performances, while Kahuraki shared his stunning World Buskers Festival piece blending storytelling and string games.

Partners included: Hohepa, Chris Ruth Centre Trust, Tētēkura Hub, IDEA Services, Skillwise, the White Room, Comcol youth group, and local kindergarten tamariki.

130 students

Hosted on the culturally significant Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae at Unitec, bringing together students from Prospect School and Unitec's Whaikaha Unit for a day celebrating inclusion and Mātauranga Māori.

Mihi Whakatau to open the day

Juggling and object manipulation with Circability facilitators

Aerial trapeze experiences

Ngā Tāonga Tākaro (traditional Māori games) delivered by Te Kura Maninirau

Teacher Feedback: "Our tamariki had such a brilliant day... It was great to see some of our tamariki takiwātanga putting themselves into situations and trying activities that they would normally shy away from at kura. Being at Unitec Marae Te Noho Kotahitanga made this event all the more special." — Kōkā Philly Pai, Prospect School

The combination of circus arts and Mātauranga Māori created a unique environment where everyone could shine, regardless of ability or background.

115+ participants

A vibrant celebration bringing together Māori and disabled communities, students from Otumoetai College, community organizations, and members of the public at a culturally significant venue.

Circus workshops with Circability Bay of Plenty Hub Team

Stunning performance by Mīharo IDEA Services Kapa Haka Group featuring waiata, haka, and poi in vibrant local colours

Guidance from Cultural Adviser Wiremu Te Kanawa

Community Voices: "Loved it, so inclusive" • "We often look for daytime outings for the disabled, this is great, wish we had more opportunities like this available to us" • "Having fun is good"

Partners included: Aroha Nui Educational Trust, IDEA Services, Otumoetai College Special Needs Unit and Māori Unit, with support from Board member Erwin Van Asbeck and Christchurch Hub Manager Flair McKay.

Impact at a Glance

395+

Total Participants

Regional Events

15+

Partner Organizations

100%

Positive Feedback

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Community Voices

We often look for daytime outings for the disabled, this is great, wish we had more opportunities like this available to us.

Good fun, enjoyed it, looking for more events like this, like community events for Aroha Nui to attend.

Loved it, liked the variety, something for everyone, great social aspect, fun safe way to socialise, we ditched class for this.

Ngā Huia and Ngā Kahukura - Prospect School's Reo Rua unit would like to thank Circability for the amazing opportunity to attend Kanohi Kitea. This was a fabulous day that allowed our tamariki to learn and practice new skills.

Our tamariki had such a brilliant day working with the experts and were captivated by the trapeze work especially.

It was great to see some of our tamariki takiwātanga putting themselves into situations and trying activities that they would normally shy away from at kura.

He tino mihi ki a Mark koutou ki ngā kaiako katoa i o koutou pukenga, me o koutou manaakitanga ki o mātou tamariki.

Ngā Mihi - With Gratitude

New Zealand Community Trust • Phillipstown Community Hub • Te Rahi A Maui • Move • Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae • Te Kura Maninirau • Prospect School • Unitec Whaikaha Unit • Otumoetai College Okohanga Whare Wānanga • Mīharo IDEA Services Kapa Haka Group • Wiremu Te Kanawa (Cultural Adviser) • Whāea Stevie-Jane Mutu • Matua Jo'el Komene • Hohepa • Chris Ruth Centre Trust • Tētēkura Hub • IDEA Services • Skillwise • The White Room • Aroha Nui Educational Trust • Comcol • Ōtautahi Creative Spaces • All participants, whānau, and community members who brought this kaupapa to life

Looking Back

View Kanohi Kitea 2024 →

Kanohi Kitea 2025

Face to Face:

Connection Through Circus & Culture

Three Regions, One Kaupapa

Ōtautahi Christchurch

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Bay of Plenty

Impact at a Glance

Community Voices

Ngā Mihi - With Gratitude

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