A play telling the story about the death of a child at the hands of her family will come to Northland, with 200 free youth tickets on offer.
The play titled Patua - a Maori verb, which means to strike, hit, beat, kill, subdue or ill treat - and written by Renae Maihi, will be in Kaikohe and Kaitaia next week.
Patua centres on baby Moni, who has been beaten within an inch of her life; a life filled with poverty and desperation. But in a twist of fate, her unknown extended whanau discover the truth and bury her as the "princess she should have been".
Ms Maihi said the play mirrored society while also carrying a message that abuse should never happen.
"I am pleased to bring this important work into the spotlight. We've seen multiple cases of child abuse in New Zealand and though I am not saying it is specifically a Maori problem, it is undeniably so."
Patua, directed by Maria Walker and produced by Hiona Henare, scooped the Best Play by a Maori Playwright award at the 2013 ADAM NZ Play Awards.
There will be 100 free youth tickets (13yrs-20yrs) at each show, while other tickets will be $15 waged (working) and $10 unwaged (not working). The show will be at the Kaikohe Memorial Hall on July 16 at 6.30pm and the second show will be at the Te Ahu Centre in Kaitaia.
•For tickets to the Kaikohe show text 021 252 9151 or email patuaproduction@gmail.com for the Kaitaia show tickets, which will be sold at the Te Ahu Centre or phone 0800 920029 or 09 4080879.