“Ki te hiki taku waewae i tēnei whenua, ka moana i muri i a au, toe mai he pūrekireki wīwī, ka puta ka ora, ka puta ka ora!” He patupaiarehe nō Pirongia maunga, he whakatinanatanga o Te Hononga Mareikura o Tainui me Takitimu waka. Ko Maioha Allen ahau. I grew up in Hamilton and Christchurch fortunate enough to have been raised in a family full of artists, mostly performing artists within the kapa haka realm. My background is in Education and Te Reo Māori. 2018 gave me the opportunity to be in Flowing Waters by Witi Ihimaera, which then led me to Te Pou Theatre in 2020, even more lucky to stay on as a Kaiwhakahaere Whakaari under the wing of Amber Curreen.