Top North Island Musicals in 2026

Experience the story of the Mt Tarawera volcanic eruption through powerful live theatre. After a sold-out debut season that drew almost 6,000 people and standing ovations, Tērā te Auahi returns to the Sir Howard Morrison Centre in Rotorua from 15 January to 14 February 2027. Created by Rotorua performing arts collective Te Whare Tapere o Te Arawa, this contemporary production combines theatre, music, movement and kapa haka. Mt Tarawera, a sacred mountain to Te Arawa, is central to Rotorua’s history and the beginnings of its tourism. On 10 June 1886, it erupted in one of the most dramatic natural events in New Zealand’s history. Villages were buried, lives were lost and the landscape was reshaped. Tērā te Auahi tells the stories of the people of Te Wairoa and surrounding villages, exploring loss, survival, resilience and the enduring spirit of the land. Witness the story in the place it happened, through heartfelt Māori storytelling, culture and performance.