Kairākau - First Episode

Te Ao Māori meets 70s kung fu movies in this Māori TV series, as a modern guide travels back to pre-Pākehā times to introduce "the greatest warriors of the past". Kairākau uses modern filmmaking tools (including roving camerawork, and the kinetic style of action films like 300) to explore ancestral history and showcase Māori martial arts. This first episode tells of Tunohopu’s utu, after an ambush by a Tūwharetoa war party sees the capture of his son and brother. Kairākau was created by Rangi Rangitukunoa. Kapa haka expert Wetini Mitai-Ngātai choreographs the martial arts.

When I was growing up, I attended wānanga on Mokoia under the tutorship of Koro Mita. It sparked in me an interest for our ancestors, those that had fought, and those that had traversed our land.

– Director Rangi Rangitukunoa, in an interview with Māori Television, 18 March 2016

Key Cast & Crew

Rangi Rangitukunoa

Series Creator, Director, Editor, Associate Producer

Wetini Mitai-Ngātai

Associate Producer, Fight Choreographer

Tupoutahi Winitana

Presenter

Lara Northcroft

Producer

Tearepa Kahi

Writer, Editor, Executive Producer

Anaha Hiini

As: Te Roro-o-Te Rangi