This Way of Life

Filmed over four years, This Way of Life documents the story of Hawkes Bay hunter and horse wrangler Peter Ottley-Karena, wife Colleen (Ngāti Maniapoto), and their six children. Intercut with Peter's articulate bush philosophy, it captures the family's romantic, dignified relationship to each other and to the natural world. Ever-present amongst the challenges their commitment to a 'simple life' faces is Peter's broken relationship with his step-father. Life received a special mention at the Berlin Film Festival; Variety called it "resonant and stunningly shot".

What do I do for a living? I live for a living.

– Peter Karena

Key Cast & Crew

Thomas Burstyn

Director, Cinematographer

Barbara Sumner-Burstyn

Writer, Producer

Malachi Ottley-Karena

Subject

Elias Ottley-Karena

Subject

Cushla Dillon

Editor

Dan Browne

Post Production, Assistant Editor