Taku Rākau E

In this poetic short film, writer/director/songwriter Kararaina Rangihau tells a story of great significance to the Tūhoe people. Unfolding entirely in te reo Māori, the narrative follows a child (played by Te Ratauhina Tumarae) learning the origins to the waiata 'Taku Rākau E', from her great-grandmother (Menu Ripia). Flicking between the present day and 1873, the great-grandmother tells how Mihikitekapua, a blind women of Tūhoe (also played by Ripia), first sang this important waiata. Rangihau was mentored by prominent filmmaker Merata Mita, who produced the film with co-producer Chelsea Winstanley. 

As a person of strong Tuhoe descent it is important to me to develop my skills as a film-writer and film-director, so that I may retell our stories from a Tūhoe perspective. They are interesting, relevant, and most of all, they have never been told before.

– Writer/director Kararaina Rangihau, in the film's press kit

Key Cast & Crew

Menu Ripia

As: Mihikitekapua & Nan

Kararaina Rangihau

Director, Writer

Merata Mita

Producer

Te Ratauhina Tumarae

As: Erana

Grant McKinnon

Cinematographer

Chelsea Winstanley

Co-Producer