The Pā Boys

It is a story that explores the strength of friendship, the importance of whānau (family) whakapapa (genealogy) and history.

– From The Pā Boys publicity

This is gonna be good.

– Jo (Roimata Fox) when the boys first play together at the flat party

Welcome to the pā!

– Cityboy (Tola Newbury) welcomes Tau (Matariki Whatarau) to the flat

Himiona [Grace] had been writing the script for a good seven years before we had a look at it ... I think all he said when he pitched it to me was, 'It's about three bros, they make a band, start in Wellington, and tour up the country'. And I was like 'ok, sweet'. But then you have a look at the script and realise it's about a whole lot more than that.

– Actor Matariki Whatarau on hearing about the script from writer/director Himiona Grace, The NZ Herald, January 2014

...a very creditable debut feature .. a promising first harvest from a vigorous new tree.

– A three and a half star review of The Pā Boys, The NZ Herald, 6 February 2014

What’s a Māori without roots eh?

– A line from The Pā Boys trailer

So I wanted to tell a story about some young Māori men who are just feeling their way through life and death. Just like many other young men around the world. They're not losers, or violent. They're not perfect either. They are passionate, have talent to burn and are living life to the only way they know how.

– Director Himiona Grace in an interview with SCREEN-SPACE, 7 March 2014