Playwright looks to her ancestor to help others reflect

A Dunedin playwright who has penned a performance about her great, great, great, great, great grandmother hopes it will encourage audiences to examine their own ancestors’ stories.

Wahine Mātātoa: The (Mostly) True Story Of Erihāpeti Pātahi is among the nearly 40 events showing around the city as part of this year’s Dunedin Arts Festival — which kicks off today.

Playwright Cindy Diver (Kai Tahu) said the show was a "comedy of consequences" set in dual timelines about Erihāpeti Pātahi, an Otago wahine born in the early 1800s of whom she was a descendant.

A "staunch adventurer", gold miner, pounamu fossicker, trader and whaler, Pātahi was involved in many pivotal moments in New Zealand’s history — including the first trial case of the Treaty of Waitangi — and Ms Diver said she felt "humbled" to share her ancestor’s story.

Some of Pātahi’s behaviour meant her relationships with whānau in Otago and Murihiku were damaged, and she had been "kind of written out of history", Ms Diver said.

There were still people who were grumpy with her, but also others who, as a result, were estranged from what could have been their marae.

She said the play aimed to rewrite Pātahi back into history.

"It's good to talk about our ancestors, so that people can find forgiveness for them, but also we can find more connection."

Pātahi likely had "thousands" of descendants and Ms Diver hoped audiences would leave the theatre with an appreciation for the richness of Māori culture, the importance of "looking backwards to move forwards".

Despite being her direct descendant, Ms Diver said she had "never imagined" acting in the play as Pātahi.

But, during rehearsals, it was discovered the woman who was cast as Pātahi — Dunedin actor Grace Turipa — was also a descendant.

The play is showing at the Allen Hall Theatre tomorrow, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

tim.scott@odt.co.nz