Meet the team
Our Kumarani whānau are the backbone of our organisation. Their passion and drive for social circus allows us to bring joy to the whole community.
Tania Whetū
Tania is the Kumarani Productions Trust Manager. Ze loves bringing people together at events and facilitating Circus Kumarani from behind the scenes as well as on the stage!
Growing up in Dunedin, Tania joined the Circus Club at Otago University and began managing circus events in 2010. Since then, ze has developed as a performance artist, toured and taught circus skills across Aotearoa and Australia with the Wandering Circus, and managed public art projects and community events.
Tania joined the Kumarani team in 2020 and is passionate about the benefits of circus and creative arts.
Lisa L
ü
Lisa is a multi talented circus performer & teacher, from Germany.
She has been teaching children circus since 2004 and joined Circus Kumarani in 2012.
Lisa teaches the Whangarei Friday Youth Circus Class with Mat Manamat.
Mat Manamat
Mat has been doing circus for the 15 years. He learnt most of his skills in Europe from a few different circus schools, where he became a "master" of manipulation.
He came to New Zealand and became part of the Kumarani team in 2008.
Mat teaches the Whangarei Friday Youth Circus Class with Lisa Lü.
Anntix
Ann aka Anntix is circus teacher, performer and event coordinator for Circus Kumarani.
They have been doing Circus for about 20 years, and with Circus Kumarani since 2021.
Ann teaches the Dargaville circus classes.
Lexi
Lexi has been in the performing arts for 12 years, and with Circus Kumarani for 3.
She loves performing and working with the youth.
Lexi teaches the Whangarei Thursday Kids Circus Class with Jess.
Holly
Holly has been doing circus for about 6 years, and became a part of the Kumarani team in 2023.
They love working behind the scenes, and performing on the stage!
Holly also runs Cosmic Floss a candy floss business in Whangarei.
Jess
Jess aka The Lady Grinning Soul has been hoola hooping for 10 years, and joined the Circus Kumarani team about 3 years ago.
She loves being a part of the welcoming circus community, and she values the confidence that circus builds in people.
Jess teaches the Whangarei Thursday Kids Circus Class with Lexi.
Zion
Zion has been a part of the Circus Kumarani team for 2 years, and is also a part of Pheonix Fire Flow and Circus.
Pheonix Fire Flow and Circus sells a diverse range of circus props, puts on jams and other performances.
So Phie
So Phie from The Wild Untamed has been with Circus Kumarani for about 5 years.
The Wild Untamed does amazing aerial performances, workshops and so much more.
Want to join our team?
Learn about our Artist Residency opportunity!
The Board
Anna Harding
After living in cities and abroad for the last decade, Anna is back in her hometown of Dargaville and excited to be part of this amazing local organisation. She has been on the board since the end of 2020. She works on her family farm, and is passionate about creativity, nature and community.
Lucy Wu
Lucy is an Auckland based nurse who has been dabbling in circus since 2018 and loves to play on the silks. Lucy brings management and governance experience from the sports, health and retail sectors. She joined the Kumarani board at the end of 2021. Lucy is passionate about wellness and sees the mahi Kumarani does as a huge contribution to the community in creating space for all to experience the beauty of circus. She sees circus as the intersection of artistic expression, physical exercise and community.
Tommy moved back home to Tai Tokerau in 2015 after living in Nelson for most of his life. In 2018 he and his partner spent time travelling in Europe and North America before coming home just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since being back, Tommy has settled down with his partner on her family farm while commencing his studies as a social worker. He is passionate about his community and how to integrate healthy peoples and healthy environments together. Tommy joined the Circus Kumarani board in late 2020, where he has great enthusiasm for everything circus and a drive for creating safe spaces for team members, students, volunteers and Rainbow communities.
Tommy Fowlie
Ko Tokatoka te maunga
Ko Kaiiwi te roto
Ko Wairoa te awa
Ko Te Kaipara te moana
Ko Saint-Pauli te waka
Ko Ngāti Kurī ko Ngāpuhi ngā iwi
Ko Subritzky/Wagner tōku marae
Nō Ripiro ahau
Kei Aoroa tōku kainga noho
Ko Fowlie tōku whānau
Ko Tommy tōku ingoa