THE REDACTION ACTION THAT SPARKED A NATIONAL RECKONING COMES HOM

Te Wehi Ratana’s story takes centre stage in ration the Queen’s veges following a theatrical act of redaction, resistance, and reclamation, playing to Circa Theatre, Wellington from 16 August – 13 September.  Following its 2025 premiere at Te Pou Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau as part of the Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival, the production comes home to the whenua where the story was born.
 
Co-written with director Tainui Tukiwaho this uplifting one-man play is inspired by true events and shares the remarkable experience of Te Wehi Ratana’s time in Rimutaka Prison. Part courtroom drama, part prison diary, part absurdist kōrero, people can expect a playful and provocative theatrical experience that questions what we hold to be true.
 
In December 2023, Te Papa Tongarewa became ground zero for an act of protest that shook the nation. Tangata Whenua-led, direct action, climate and social justice rōpū Te Waka Hourua painted over the English text of the Treaty of Waitangi exhibition with the now-iconic provocation: “no. Her Majesty the Queen of England is the alien. ration the Queen’s veges.”

The action ignited a national reckoning — sparking outrage, admiration, discomfort, and kōrero across the motu. All involved faced charges, only Te Wehi Ratana was held in Rimutaka Prison. This is the story of his 48 hours behind bars.

Locked in a cell with his new mate Brian, Ratana discovered the true currency of incarceration: conversation… And lozzies. Nicotine Lozenges (or lozzies) became a bartering tool for stories. Inmates offered their thoughts — unfiltered and raw — on the Treaty, the Te Papa artivism, the Crown, and colonisation. What began as small talk soon gave way to confessions, kōrero, and hopes and dreams for the future.
Ratana began collecting those reflections — written down in letters from the inmates. The voices that emerged were nuanced, poetic, conflicted, and deeply human. ration the Queen’s veges is built on those voices.

“You think you know who’s inside prison. But when you’re in there, and you really listen, you realise: these are some of the most honest voices in the country. And they rarely get heard.” – Te Wehi Ratana

Performed by the accomplished Ngahiriwa Rauhina (Ngāti Whakaue, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa), ration the Queen’s veges gives shape to the people and stories Ratana met behind bars — some true, some not. From his cellmates’ surprising tenderness to the fierce loyalty of the inmates in Block C, Rauhina shapeshifts through a dozen characters with humour, purpose and emotional precision.

The play premiered to acclaim at Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival in 2025. Critics said:

“A powerful and necessary amplification of the quieter voices of rebellion in our society.” – Art Murmurs

"A true story told with charm, clarity and honesty. Totally recommended."
— Theatreview
 
Tukiwaho says the play illustrates the impact political action can have on those who are normally shunned in our society.

“Te Wehi found a safe space for inmates to express and share their feelings through ingenuity and genuine connection. ration the Queen’s veges is a story about the quiet voice of defiance that still burns within us even when we are silenced.”

It is particularly significant that ration the Queen’s veges now arrives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 100 metres from where the protest took place, where Te Wehi was charged and convicted, and where the original spray-painted panel has since been removed.

In April 2024, Te Papa installed a new Treaty display — a more curated response that includes video explanations and signage referencing the protest. But the original panel? It's in storage. Its future is unclear.

Meanwhile, Ratana with Te Pou Theatre, is not done telling his story…

CREATIVE TEAM
Kaiwhakaari / Performer – Ngahiriwa Rauhina
Writers / Kaituhi – Te Wehi Ratana & Tainui Tukiwaho
Director / Ringatohu – Tainui Tukiwaho
Stage Manager & Voice Artist – Roy Iro
Lighting Design, AV Design & Production Manager – Jane Hakaraia
Sound Design – Connor Magatogia
Set, Costume & Props – Nicole Marsh
AV Support – Bekky Boyce
Operator – Marshall Rankin
Produced by Te Pou Theatre and Ko.Ko.Ko Productions

SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Circa Two, Circa Theatre, Wellington
Early Bird Tickets: 19 June – 3 July 2025
Preview Night:  Friday 15 August
Season dates: 16 Aug - 13 Sept
Programmed for inclusion in the TAHI - New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance
Choose Your Price Night: Tuesday 19 August
Audio Described Performance is at 4.30pm Sunday 7th September
Sunday Special Tickets: 4.30pm Sunday 17 September, tickets are $40.
Relaxed Performance: 4.30pm, Sunday 24 August. Also, pre-notes are available on request.
Q&A Session: Sunday 17 Aug following the 4.30pm performance
Relaxed Performance: Sunday 24 August
Tickets: $30–$60 at www.circa.co.nz
Runtime: 50 mins (no interval)
Content Note: Contains coarse language and themes related to incarceration and protest.