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 has been part of the team since 2020. They loves bringing people together at events and facilitating Circus Kumarani from behind the scenes as well as on the stage! Tania is passionate about the benefits of circus and creative arts.
Growing up in Dunedin, Tania joined the Circus Club at Otago University and began managing circus events in 2010. Since then, they 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.
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 Aerial Classes and also 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.
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 hooping for more than 10 years and joined the Circus Kumarani team in 2021.
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 Zion.
Zion
Zion has been part of the Circus Kumarani team since 2022 and is also involved with Phoenix Fire Flow and Circus, which offers a range of circus props, performances, and community jams.
At Kumarani, Zion teaches the Whangarei Thursday Kids Circus Class alongside Jess.
Tracey
Trust Manager
Tracey brings a practical, down-to-earth approach to leading Kumarani, with over a decade of experience in financial management, strategic planning, and organisational development.
Since stepping in as Trust Manager in 2024, she has strengthened the organisation’s operations, improved its financial position, and nurtured a positive team culture, ensuring Kumarani’s creative magic thrives.
A Management Accountant by training, Tracey has worked with Oranga Tamariki, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, and various New Zealand businesses and nonprofits, combining financial expertise with a passion for community-led change and making circus accessible to all.
Want to join our team?
Learn about our Artist Residency opportunity!
The Board
Trudy Talbot - Chairperson
Tsz Ho - Treasurer
Mabel Jiang - Secretary
Mabel Kennedy Jiang is a communications and design practitioner dedicated to strengthening community arts. She brings strategic clarity, creative literacy, and care to her work with Circus Kumarani, supporting governance and storytelling.
Craig Kenney
Anna-May Jensen