Te Ao Kapurangi (Warrior Woman)

This short film draws on a key incident in the life of Te Ao-kapurangi, a woman of mana for Te Arawa's people. In the late nineteenth century, Aotearoa was in the grip of a 'musket war'; firearms were having a devastating effect in tribal battles. Hongi, a Ngāpuhi chief, leads a well-armed assault on a rival Te Arawa tribe. Te Ao-kapurangi (Stephanie Grace) challenges Hongi and uses her wits, not a gun, to save her people. Invited to prestigious French festival Clermont-Ferrand, the film marked a rare drama directing credit for the late Tama Poata, writer of landmark Māori film Ngāti.

I don't know if we won or lost.

– Ngāpuhi chief Hongi (Lawrence Wharerau) realises he has been outmanoeuvred by Te-Ao-kapurangi

Key Cast & Crew

Stephanie Grace

As: Te Ao Kapurangi

Lawrence Wharerau

As: Hongi

Tama Poata

Director, Writer

Robin Murphy

Producer, First Assistant Director

Ace Renata Welsh

As: Dying Chief

Tama Kirikiri

As: Ngāpuhi Chief #2