The Haka Party Incident / Transmission

Two exceptional verbatim plays in one volume. 

Transmission captures the New Zealand government’s response to the beginning of
the COVID-19 pandemic, centring around the decision to lock down the country in early-2020. Crafted primarily from interviews conducted with Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson and Michael Baker, it provides an intimate insight into the professional and personal experiences of those instrumental to the decision-making, and the responsibility that comes with it.

“gripping, amusing, insightful, unexpected and moving.” John Smythe, Theatreview

The Haka Party Incident revives an important, near-forgotten day in New Zealand’s history,
1 May 1979, when a group of Māori students and activists challenged a mock haka tradition led by students at the University of Auckland’s Engineering School. The play explores the confrontation and its aftermath through verbatim dialogue and transcripts, revealing the complexities of race relations in Aotearoa, which are still seen today.

“From the rousing first haka to the sombre closing moments, The Haka Party Incident is an innovative, brilliant piece of theatre...” Ethan Sills, New Zealand Herald