The true story of Rotorua soldier Captain Roger Dansey is being brought to life in Wellington Opera's performance Mate Ururoa.
Written by acclaimed New Zealand composer Dame Gillian Whitehead, it tells the true story of Roger Ingram Te Kepa Dansey, engineer and Māori All Black, who enlisted when Britain declared war on Germany in 1914 and was one of the five hundred strong "Native Contingent".
His war story is first about the humiliation faced by Māori soldiers, his heroism at Gallipoli, but then being accused of desertion and sent home in disgrace.
Whitehead wrote the libretto in te reo Māori and English for US-based Māori baritone David Tahere, who plays Roger Dansey.
Directed by Sara Brodie, the opera was originally supposed to premiere in 2021 at New York's Carnegie Hall - but this was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Instead, the world premiere will be in Wellington this weekend.
Dame Gillian Whitehead, Sara Brodie and David Tahere are in the Wellington studio.
Dame Gillian Whitehead. Photo: © 2019 National Library Imaging Services, Department of Internal Affairs
