Christchurch-raised Tearepa Kahi began acting and playing saxophone as a teen, then spent two years in a theatre troupe run by Jim Moriarty. Later he studied history and Māori at Auckland University, and acted in landmark te reo film The Māori Merchant of Venice (2002). After directing several award-winning short films he made Mt. Zion, the most successful Kiwi movie of 2012. Next came two big screen music documentaries: Moa-nominated hit Poi E: The Story of Our Song, and 2019's Herbs - Songs of Freedom. In 2022 Muru — his dramatisation of the 2007 Tūhoe police raids — was chosen to open the NZ International Film Festival.
...Kahi serves it all up with obvious love, a quietly watchful pace and a sunbaked visual style. The result is a smart, finely-observed, heartfelt drama of good humour and decent tunes against an authentic local setting. Russell Baillie reviews movie Mt. Zion in The NZ Herald, 6 February 2013
2022, Director, Writer, Executive Producer - Film
2019, Director, Executive Producer, Editor - Film
2019, Drama Writer - Web
2018, Creative Producer - Film
2016, Additional Writing - Film
2016 - 2023, Writer, Editor, Executive Producer - Television
2016, Director, Writer, Editor, Executive Producer - Film
2016, Writer, Editor, Executive Producer - Television
2012, Director, Writer, Editor - Film
2011, Kaitiaki - Film
2010, Executive Producer - Short Film
2010, Subject - Television
2007, Director, Writer, Editor - Short Film
2005, Director, Writer, Producer - Short Film
2002, As: Paul - Television
2002, As: Duane Heremia - Short Film
2002, As: Kingi - Television
1994, Producer - Television
1999, As: Conrad Townsend - Television
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