Whānau

Exploring "what it is to be Māori in the new millennium", documentary project Whānau has released new instalments every six or seven years. Director Kay Ellmers follows four Māori families and their children, from their child's birth in 2000, through to puberty. Whānau was inspired by English series Up, which follows a group of Brits from age seven into old age. The first, two-part Whānau episode was named Best Māori Programme at the 2002 NZ TV Awards. Ellmers directed follow-ups in 2008 and 2014; the 2021 edition was directed by Kathleen Mantel, with Ellmers' daughter Parehuia Mckay handling four short breakout episodes.