Awhimai Fraser
Role: Kaihere Ao & Participation Co-ordinator
When did you start with NZ Opera and what was your position then?
Kia ora!
Ko Pirongia te Maunga
Ko Waipa te Awa
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Te Papa o Rotu te Marae
Ko Tainui te Iwi
Ko Ngaati Mahanga Hourua, Ngaati Puukenga, Ngaati Korokii Kahukura, Ngai te Ipu me Ngaai Taamanuhiri ngaa hapuu
Ko Awhimai Fraser ahau
I had the privilege of starting with NZ Opera as a Toi Māori intern last year and stayed on this year under two sectors of mahi. One as Kaihere Ao and the other as Participation Co-ordinator!
Tell us about Kaihere Ao.
Kaihere Ao came from the want and desire of the Company, to move forward and honour not only their bi-cultural journey but also to build and foster relationships between tangata whenua and NZ Opera as the Company progresses on this journey. The name “Kaihere Ao” means, One who brings the kaupapa of the day together as do the manu tūturu o Aotearoa ( native birds of Aotearoa ). This name was kindly gifted by our cultural competency whānau, Tūtira Mai NZ (Wairangi Jones, Cheri (Panda) Waititi and Moana Whatarau) who guide and tautoko the Company on our haerenga Māori alongside Te Amokura Consultancy (Lynette Amoroa and Heemi Kapa-Kingi). Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou katoa!
Nau te rourou, naku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
“With your contribution and my contribution, the community will prosper.”
What is the day to day of your role.
I currently work part-time and share that time with both of these roles, so I could be sending emails to Schools and Kura inviting them to share in a dress rehearsal experience of a show coming up, to reaching out to our Māori support network planning a hui or wānanga for the Company or creatives, to sending out weekly whakataukī, to executing participation projects such as our beautiful initiative The Lullaby Project which is coming up in Term 3, or to engaging with communities around different kaupapa this Company is involved in – so lots of different kaupapa spread out between the two roles! 😊
What is a significant highlight for you.
The people I get the honour of working alongside! From our General Director Thomas de Mallet Burgess to Joanne Cole my wonderful Manager, to our Māori consultants and tikanga advisors, to our creatives and staff – two of whom have been with this Company for over two decades! through to our new whānau/ people who are new to this artform. He rawe!
What advice would you give other people looking to do similar work as you?
Absolutely give it a go. Surround yourself with like-minded people and pou/influences that help you to stand proud in your role whilst helping you to grow, develop and push for further heights! There’s nothing you can’t do.
Whāia te iti kahurangi!
“Strive for something of great value!”
Share a quote you love.
Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai; Nurture the seed so it may grow.
What do you love to do outside work?
Sing, try and get amongst nature at least once a week, weekly food dates with my hubby and lots of whānau time!
