A Māori film evening at Waiheke Cinema showing Paora Te Oti Takarangi's films "Te Awa Tupua: Voices from the River" and "KATO". Part of Artworks Theatre's Motu Matariki Festival. The showing will be followed by a kōrero by Maikara Ropata and complimentary nibbles and tea.

MORE ABOUT THE FILMS

"Te Awa Tupua: Voices from the River" IS a gentle yet emotionally stirring account of another important part of New Zealand's History from the Director of the revelatory Tatarakihi. 2014 NZIFF - film review "Haunting & Effective" The director of Tatarakihi: The Children of Parihaka - Paora Te Oti Takarangi Joseph channels the spirit and poetry in the stories of Whanganui iwi, past and present, and the power of the river itself, in a film celebrating their deep connection. In 1995 an iwi-lead occupation of Pakaitore – a sacred block of land in central-city Whanganui widely known as Moutua Gardens – lasted 80 days. The protest drew support from other iwi across New Zealand and highlighted the longstanding struggle for custodianship of the river. Te Awa Tupua revisits the Pakaitore occupation in considerable depth, drawing on conversations amongst those who were there. As in the earlier film, Joseph threads historical imagery into his own more recently captured footage to express a powerful sense of continuity through time. He is marvellously abetted with footage filmed at Pakaitore by an Australian TV documentary crew, whose critical perspective on the Pākehā response provides some salutary reminders of what a bitter struggle this was. Almost 20 years later the life of the river is recognised in law, and this beautiful film bears witness to – and enacts – the transfer of Whanganui culture and history to future generations. Paora

KATO is a short biography of Kato Kauwhata - visionary respected Kaumatua and long term resident of Waiheke who inspired and built Piritahi Marae and galvanised the Waiheke Community for 4 decades. Also produced and directed by Waiheke resident Paora Te Oti Takarangi.

Part of Artworks Theatre's Motu Matariki Festival funded by Foundation North.