Kura Te Ua is a Māori performing arts practitioner, choreographer and artistic director.
Her company Hawaiki TŪ creates haka theatre events including in 2023 where Autaia is featuring 400 student performers.
Te Ua was born in Auckland and raised in a community of Black Power gang members in the suburbs of Glen Innes and Ōtāhuhu.
[5] Te Ua is the creative director of Aitaia and it is co-produced with her company Hawaiki TŪ and Auckland Live.
[6]Autaia means “to be extraordinary” and this kaupapa encourages every single person involved to step into the world of haka theatre because on the other side awaits a pathway of passion, pride and unwavering self belief.’ (Kura Te Ua 2023)[6]In 2013, Te Ua received the Tup Lang Choreographic Award from Creative New Zealand.