CONCEPT ART BY GUS HUNTER FOR TANIWHA
MĀORILAND FILMS
Authentic, Unique, Indigenous
At Māoriland, storytelling is a tool for transformation—supporting the next generation of Indigenous storytellers to create bold, original, and globally resonant work.
Māoriland Films is a Māori film production company founded by producers Libby Hakaraia and Tainui Stephens in Ōtaki, Aotearoa (New Zealand)
As the production arm of the Māoriland Film Festival—the largest Indigenous film festival in the Southern Hemisphere—Māoriland Films is dedicated to authentic, Indigenous storytelling.
Māoriland Films is known for its talent development initiatives, including the Native Slam, an international Indigenous filmmaking challenge that has produced 21 short films by over 58 Indigenous filmmakers, fostering global collaboration and creativity.
And the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab that has developed 8 feature film scripts with Writer/Directors and attached Producers to these projects.
Our recent work also includes; Shrek Kātahi Te Korokē, the first DreamWorks film adapted into te reo Māori, animated series – Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki, and award-winning short film series, Ngā Pakiaka Incubator that saw new Māori talent create 11 short films that are screening in festivals around the world.
The Māoriland Film slate includes feature films: TANIWHA, DISCO KUINI, PRESSURE and animated series; TAKU OHOOHO.
KIRIATA | FEATURE FILMS
KIRIATA POTO | SHORT FILMS
series
NATIVE Minds
NATIVE Minds – hosted by Tainui Stephens – is a series of interactive discussions that examine how Indigenous thinking shapes our existence, and our view of the world.
NATIVE MINDS responds to issues in our community, in NZ and globally.
Guest speakers include:
- Professor Rangi Mātāmua
- Professor Meihana Durie
- Dr Hinemoa Elder
And many more great Indigenous champions!
Host: Tainui Stephens
ANIMATED REO MĀORI MUSIC VIDEOS
Waiata Bros
Tihei Mauri ora! Ko Turanga Mahutonga toku ingoa, he uri tenei no Te Arawa, Taranaki me Ngāti Whakaue. Anei he kōrero e pā ana ki aku mahi pakiwaituhi, ara, ko Waiata Bro’s!
Waiata Bros are joyous waiata with animated characters and “earworm” tunes designed for tamariki and adults alike and especially those who are embarking on their reo Māori journey.
They’re catchy and fun – for everyone to sing along to.
The aim of the series is to give a diverse audience the ability and confidence to speak Māori. The series also offers an easy route to start to understand pepeha, mihi, kare ā roto (emotions), and essential language structures.
Waiata Bro’s was created at M.A.T.C.H – the Māoriland Tech Creative Hub.
Creator: Turanga Mahutonga
PROJECT
NATIVE Slam X
10 teams. 30 Indigenous filmmakers. 10 NATIVE Slam films. One Feature
PROOF THAT WHEN INDIGENOUS PASSION, SKILL AND A WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE COMBINES FILMMAKING MAGIC HAPPENS.
In celebration of the 10th Māoriland Film Festival, we plan to present the NATIVE Slam in 10 communities across the Indigenous world.
We are looking for:
- Project partners in participating nations
- Funder partners
- Host filmmakers
Producers: Libby Hakaraia, Pauline Clague, Matilda Poasa, Madeleine Hakaraia de Young