A Bay Of Plenty Story Told Through Music: The Journey Of Mataatua Comes To Baycourt

A powerful local story of identity, loss and healing will be brought to life through live orchestral music when Opus Orchestra performs The Journey of Mataatua in Tauranga this May.

Taking place at Baycourt Community & Arts Centre on the afternoon of Saturday 16 May 2026, the performance invites audiences to engage with a deeply meaningful Bay of Plenty story, told through music by the region’s professional orchestra.

The Journey of Mataatua is a concert opera by Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead that tells the true story of Mataatua Whare, built by Ngāti Awa in Whakatāne around 150 years ago. Taken overseas without consent, the whare endured years of mistreatment before finally returning home to Aotearoa New Zealand, and ultimately back to Whakatāne in 2011.

Opus Orchestra first performed the work inside Mataatua Whare in June 2025, in a private concert for Ngāti Awa, who were actively involved in the development of the piece. That performance was a powerful moment of cultural connection and collaboration, before the work went on to its first public performance in Dunedin.

The story explores themes of identity, heritage, pain, suffering and healing, expressed through music, voices and visual imagery. Together, these elements create space for reflection and deeper understanding. Not only of this important New Zealand story, but across cultures more broadly.

General Manager of Opus Orchestra Rebecka Beetz says the Bay of Plenty connection makes bringing the work to Tauranga especially significant.

Mataatua Whare stands in Whakatāne, and the story is deeply rooted in the region. Opus Orchestra is also closely connected to Tauranga, as the only professional orchestra that regularly performs here, with many musicians and its management team based locally.

Presented as a double bill, the concert also features celebrated New Zealand pianist Stephen De Pledge, who will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, often called the “Emperor Concerto” in the first half of the programme. The pairing offers something for seasoned concertgoers and those attending their first orchestral performance.

Live orchestral music can play an important role in community wellbeing, offering a rare opportunity to pause, be present, and share an experience together. For many of the musicians involved, earlier performances of The Journey of Mataatua were among the most meaningful of their careers. Highlighting the impact of the work both on audiences and those performing it.

Bringing the work to Tauranga early in its performance life positions the city as an active participant in the development and sharing of new New Zealand music.

For those unsure about attending their first orchestra concert, Beetz keeps the message simple:

“Just come and allow yourself to enjoy, be immersed in the moment and experience the power of music.”

To help bring the work to Tauranga and keep it accessible for the community to experience, the upcoming Baycourt concert is being supported by philanthropic partners and local councils through the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund.

Bay Trust CEO Alastair Rhodes says the story and setting make the event especially meaningful for the region.

“Live performances like this create moments of connection that stay with people long after the final note. Supporting The Journey of Mataatua means helping our community experience something powerful, local and deeply meaningful.”

Acorn Foundation CEO Lori Luke says the support from the Event fund helps ensure people from across the community can afford to attend.

“This funding helps remove barriers so more people can experience live orchestral music, whether it’s their first concert or their fiftieth. Events like this enrich our region culturally and socially.”

Funding support enables Opus Orchestra to offer $10.75 tickets for children and students, senior concessions, family ticket options, and complimentary tickets distributed through Tauranga organisations supporting low-income families and seniors.

At its heart, The Journey of Mataatua is about opening the doors to orchestral music and inviting people to experience it for themselves, whether they attend concerts regularly or not at all.

The performance offers a rare chance to experience a contemporary opera developed in Aotearoa New Zealand, hear one of the world’s most well-loved piano concertos live, and enjoy performances by some of the country’s leading artists — all without leaving the region.

For anyone wondering whether orchestral music is “for them”, the message is clear. There are no expectations and no prior knowledge required. Head along, be immersed in the music, and share a live moment with others.

Key Details:

• What: The Journey of Mataatua (Mataatua and Beethoven opera in concert and piano concerto)
• When: 3:00pm Saturday 16 May 2026
• Where: Addison Theatre, Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, Tauranga
• Tickets: Available via Eventfinda https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/mataatua-beethoven-opera-in-concert-piano-concerto/tauranga

About the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund

The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund supports community events across Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, helping bring people together through inclusive, community-driven experiences.

The Fund brings together five funding partners — Acorn Foundation, Bay Trust, Tauranga City Council, TECT Community Trust and Western Bay of Plenty District Council — into a single, streamlined funding process. This approach reduces complexity for event organisers, who previously needed to apply to multiple organisations separately.

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