Ancestral Stories Unfold in Vibrant Animation: Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki
Ancestral Stories Unfold in Vibrant Animation: Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki
Aotearoa’s latest animated series, Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki, premieres today on Whakaata Māori +. This 10-part series, written, directed and animated by Rautini Conroy Thompson O’Brien with Māoriland Productions, brings to life a powerful Māori story of survival and resilience set in 1880s Taranaki.
In the heart of Taranaki, three young girls are about to experience a day that will change their world forever. It’s the 1880s, and the Land Wars have supposedly ended. A peace feast with Pākehā soldiers promises a new era of harmony. But what begins as a hopeful gathering soon reveals the deep wounds of colonisation—and only Wai, Mihi, and Ngaru will survive to carry the weight of their people’s legacy.
This is the powerful narrative of Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki, a groundbreaking animated series premiering on Whakaata Māori + on 1 October 2024. Set against the lush backdrop of Taranaki, this ten-part series offers an emotional and visually stunning retelling of a history passed down through generations.
Writer and lead animator Rautini inherited this story from her Great-Great-Great-Great Grandmother. “We’ve used the tradition of oral storytelling to keep our story alive for 150 years now, across four generations,” Rautini says. It’s a story of survival, hope, and strength. Told entirely in the Taranaki dialect, Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki is a reclamation of language, history, and identity.
The series brings 1880s Aotearoa to life with a vibrant, colourful animation style inspired by Rautini’s love for Studio Ghibli. Bold, rich colours soften the story’s intensity, making it accessible for younger audiences to connect with its themes. “I wanted to show our people in a beautiful light. We really wanted an explosion of colours,” says Rautini. “It’s easier for kids to digest a heavy story like this when it’s wrapped in something bright and magical. But the truth of the history remains.”
Through its visual beauty, the series draws viewers into a harrowing yet vital narrative about colonisation in Aotearoa—one that has long been overlooked. It is a uniquely Māori way of storytelling, blending history, imagination, and spirit. “This story is based on an oral story within my line, but we also did a lot of research and wānanga and have found that unsurprisingly, people from all over Aotearoa have stories very similar to ours. It’s my hope that we inspire and help more people to tell their pūrākau, to share their truths and have those conversations.”
The making of Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki was a collaboration of dedication and passion. A graduate, tuakana, coordinator and facilitator of Māoriland Tech Creative Hub (M.A.T.C.H), Rautini knew that her first project as a storyteller had to be this. “It’s been passed down through the wāhine in my whānau to me. It’s always felt like my responsibility to put it out there. My mum is a fantastic storyteller, and she has really supported and pushed me to share this story. It kinda feels otherworldly,” says Rautini, who co-wrote the series with her mother, Paula Conroy. Script advisor Andrea Kahukiwa also provided guidance, and the series was animated in Ōtaki by a team of rangatahi, many of whom were working on their first major project.
The production then returned to Taranaki, where the team worked with voice actors Te Ingo Ngaia, Bonnie Maxwell, Te Waiora Bailey, Taihuri Rite, Kura Ranginiwa, Marama Sionetama, Te Rau Oriwa Davis, and Tamaitipiripi Anderson, recording at SwampShack Studio.
The music, composed by Mara TK, Leonardo Coghini, Richard Taylor, Meetinghouse Film Music, Rautini, and her sister Fern Te Mihi Mihiharo, adds an additional emotional depth to the series.
With the guidance of Māoriland Kaitiaki Pūkōrero Libby Hakaraia and Kaitiaki Tainui Stephens, Rautini and her team spent years meticulously crafting this project. “The story had its own timeline,” Rautini reflects. “It’s taken a lot longer than we first imagined, but that’s because it’s not just a project. It’s a piece of our history. At every step of the way, we have had the support and backing of Māoriland, Whakaata Māori and Te Māngai Pāho.”
Funded by Te Māngai Pāho, the series is a shining example of the talent and vision within the Māori creative tech industry. From its hand-drawn animation to the meticulous te reo Māori translations created by Tama Ale Samoa, every element of Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki is infused with care.
Available in 10 short episodes ranging from 5 to 12 minutes each, with English subtitles, Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki invites viewers of all ages to witness a powerful Māori story. The premiere marks not just the release of a new series, but the continuation of a story that has been carried by generations of Māori women. It is a celebration of survival, resilience, and the enduring power of Indigenous storytelling.