Ake Ake Ake

In 2015, when land at Ihumātao in South Auckland was slated for housing development, six cousins teamed up to lead the SOUL (Save Our Unique Landscape) campaign to protect the ancestral Māori land from commercial development. This three-part documentary series, told retrospectively, goes behind the scenes of the protest, covering their pleas to Auckland Council, Parliament, and the United Nations for intervention. As tensions rise and the number of protesters occupying Ihumātao increases, police serve an eviction notice. Ake Ake Ake was shot across two years of the occupation by cinematographer Conan Fitzpatrick. Check out the episode guide here. 

This is hugely significant. Not just for the people from Ihumātao, it's significant for Māori and all Indigenous peoples of the world.

– SOUL co-founder Haki Wilson on the impact of the protests, in episode three

Key Cast & Crew

Peata Melbourne

Te reo Māori interviewer

Jos Wheeler

Cinematographer, Associate Producer

Kim Webby

Co-Director

Whatanui Flavell

Co-Director, Producer

Conan Fitzpatrick

Cinematographer, Field Director

Lanita Ririnui-Ryan

Commissioning Editor