Children of the Mist

This NFU film visits the remote Urewera to explore the world of the Tūhoe people. Their independence and identity have been challenged by historical tensions with Pākehā, and now modernity — as ‘children of the mist’ leave for education and jobs (at the mill, in the city). A tribal outpost in Auckland is visited, along with law student James Milroy. At a Ruatoki festival the debate is whether young people should manage tribal affairs. For director Conon Fraser the film (partly narrated by Tūhoe) revisited the subject of his last Looking at New Zealand episode.

At one of their largest meeting houses [in Ruatoki] plans for establishing a pine forest are discussed: the affairs of the future dealt with in the manner of the past.

– From the narration

Key Cast & Crew

Conon Fraser

Director, Writer, Editor

David H Fowler

Producer

Dale Pomeroy

Camera

Brian Cross

Camera

Val Federoff

Sound

Kit Rollings

Sound