Te Whānau o Aotearoa - Caretakers of the Land

Filmed in 2002, this documentary observes a group of people living on Wellington's streets. After being moved on from Cuba Mall, the group sets up a "village of peace" by the Cenotaph (near Parliament). Led by the dreadlocked 'Brother' (aka Ben Hana), they attempt to gain an audience with the government. Their self-proclaimed marae provokes police, public, politicians and media. Reviewer Graeme Tuckett called the film a "landmark in New Zealand documentary making". Hana later gained a local profile as Courtenay Place's 'Blanket Man'. He passed away in January 2012.

The film is honest, troubling, at times very funny, and always compelling to watch. It is an essential piece of cinema, and a work (but not a story) that Wellington should be proud of.

– Graeme Tuckett in a Capital Times review, 17 December 2003

Key Cast & Crew

Abi King-Jones

Co-Director, Editor, Producer

Errol Wright

Camera, Producer, Co-Director, Editor, Sound