WHO ARE WE?
What happens when a vibrant Māori dance teacher and an
award-winning children’s author join creative forces? Hī Hā is what happens!
Kia ora! We’re Lleuarne Panoho and Sally Sutton, and together we’ll get your students moving, thinking and creating like never before! We know kids and we understand teachers – and we’ve listened to the call for fresh, fun, easy and meaningful ways to bring the arts and Te Reo Māori into today’s busy classrooms.
We’ve each seen how our work empowers kids. We’ve seen how they grow in self-confidence, pride, empathy and understanding. Together, we believe we can change lives. We’re passionate about helping tamariki to create fitter bodies, stronger minds and more powerful imaginations. Our programme makes this possible.
Of course, we can’t do it without you, our teachers. Please join us! Kids think better on their feet – let’s get them up and get them creating! We are so excited to share Hī Hā with you!
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.
My strength is not that of a single warrior, but that of many.
MEET OUR ARTISTS
SALLY SUTTON
Sally Sutton (M.A. Hons) is an internationally renowned, award-winning children’s author best known for her boisterous rhymes, lively language and playful humour. Her picture book series Roadworks has sold over half a million copies, and set countless kids worldwide on the road to literacy.
LLEUARNE PANOHO
Lleuarne Panoho founded Hī Hā Dance Fitness in 2018, fuelled by her dual passion for dance and Māori language and culture. Trained in Zumba, Zumba Kids, Ezymovez and Bounce DanceFit, she has taught in Auckland schools over a number of years, showcasing her unique brand of Māori-inspired modern dance in a hugely popular live dance programme for tamariki.
PROGRAMME DIRECTORS
PROGRAMME 1 - MANU
It's here! 'Manu' is Hī Hā's first educational programme and we've pulled out all the stops!
From bird-themed dance and stretch videos to a story dance, from projects making bird feeders, masks and poi to bird-drawing challenges... There are writing exercises including persuasive speeches and interviews, dialogues, poems, diary entries and story starters. You'll also find puzzles, playground games, plays, and simple Te Reo Māori words and phrases repeated throughout the programme, as well as our 'Link it' section made especially for teachers by teachers to offer support with the curriculum. Did we mention a school production using the resources and tools learnt throughout the programme?
ARO
Aro are a husband and wife duo, made up of Charles (Ngapuhi) and Emily Looker (nee Rice). The pair met at Te Whare Wananga o Tamaki Makaurau (University of Auckland), both studying for a Bachelor of Music (Pop), and discovered that they shared a passion for the power of language and music to tell stories, create community and remind us of our cultural identity.
DAVID GUNSON
Dave Gunson is one of New Zealand's foremost children's illustrators, renowned for his knowledge of NZ nature and wildlife, his humour and his versatility. He has written and/or illustrated a great number of children's books, both fiction and non fiction. We are thrilled to showcase his talents in Hī Hā's inaugural programme!
JILLIAN MCLEAN
Jillian is a fully registered primary school teacher, a yoga instructor (for both kids and adults) and a mum of two young boys.
TO COME IN
PROGRAMME 2 - TANIWHA, TANIWHA!
Taniwha, Taniwha! is in development! An exciting programme featuring lots of Kiwi talent and creative projects....
SEE PROGRAMME 1 - ARO and JILLIAN MCLEAN
ANIKA MOA
Anika Rose Moa is a New Zealand recording artist and television presenter.
Anika won Best Children's Artist in the Children's Music Awards 2020.
JGEEKS
JGeeks are a New Zealand performance Māori comedy music group best known for their songs "Maori Boy" and "The Best Day I Ever Had", as well as their 2012 appearance as finalists in New Zealand's Got Talent.
Duan & only
Duan Royle Te Hira Kaka is from Wairarapa. He is best known for fronting Sydney-based ManaLion, the dubtronic/dirty roots duo that’s the main focus of his musical career.
Gavin Bishop
Gavin Bishop O.N.Z.M. (Ngati Awa, Tainui) is an author-illustrator with more than 70 books to his name, as well as the libretti for two children's ballets for the RNZ Ballet Company. His numerous awards include multiple wins at the NZ Children's Book Awards, Lianza Russell Clark Medals for Illustration, the Margaret Mahy Medal for Services to Children's Literature, Te Waka Toi Nga Tohu a Ta Kingi Ihaka Award for Services to Māori Art and Culture, the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement and an Honorary Doctorate of Education. The Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for New Illustrators was established in recognition of his work in 2009. He received a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to literature in 2013.
EMILY WALKER
Emily Walker has worked as a hair stylist, special-effect makeup artist and face- and body-painter, and has recently turned her talents to illustration. She was a finalist in the Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for Illustration (twice) and Hachette NZ's Margaret Mahy Illustration Award and now works as a professional children's book illustrator.
