Koha - Mauri

Reporter Temuera Morrison visits the East Coast to capture the making of Mauri, the first movie directed solo by a Māori woman. Writer/director Merata Mita argues it is time to "see our own people" up on the screen — and behind the camera. Mita's drama is "about birth and death, and all that takes place between". Actors Zac Wallace (Utu) and Eva Rickard are interviewed, and locals add their thoughts on watching a film being made. There are also glimpses of the sets and (at the end), their designer, Ralph Hotere. Mita said elsewhere that the film went better after "obstructive, racist" crew members were fired.

This film Mauri is about birth and death, and all that takes place between. It deals with the essence of life, the essence of attraction, joy, sorrow, grief. It goes through a whole spectrum of life that Māori live...

– Writer/director Merata Mita describes her film, at the start of this report

Key Cast & Crew

Susan D Ramari Paul

Subject

Eva Rickard

Subject

Temuera Morrison

Reporter

Morehu McDonald

Director, Producer

Anzac Wallace

Subject

Merata Mita

Subject