Whina

On 13 October 1975, a historic land march reached the grounds of Parliament in Wellington and its elderly, articulate leader became Te Whaea o te Motu (Mother of the Nation). Whina tells Dame Whina Cooper's life story, from her achievements as a Tai Tokerau leader to the famous hīkoi that made Māori land rights a key national issue. In this trailer, the teenage Whina (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne) experiences the injustice of land confiscations. Adult Whina (Miriama McDowell, from Coming Home in the Dark) takes up the mantle for Māori women, and elderly Whina (Rena Owen) delivers a powerful kōrero (speech).

No one hears us, Whaea. But when you speak, people listen. You could make our voices heard.

– Whina's Tai Tokerau whānau urge her to 'speak up' for the rights of Māori

Key Cast & Crew

Miriama McDowell

As: Whina Cooper (younger)

Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne

As: Whina Cooper (teenager)

Rena Owen

As: Whina Cooper (older), Associate Producer

James Napier Robertson

Co-Director, Writer, Executive Producer

Leon Narbey

Cinematographer

Paula Whetu Jones

Co-Director, Writer