March 04, 2024
Māori the landlords in pre-treaty drama
A producer for the new movie by Once Were Warriors director Lee Tamahori says the filming was anchored by te ao Māori, especially for location shooting in Northland and Auckland.
The Convert features a washed-up preacher caught in the middle of warring hapu in pre-colonial Aotearoa.
Te Kohe Tuhaka, who is making his debut as a producer, says the film would not have been possible without the mana and support of hapu across Ngāti Wai, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua and Te Kawerau a Māhaki
“Everybody came on board with the sense it is time to see a story like this, it is time to show Māori as the landlords and seeing how those relationships built with Māori and pākeha pre-treaty,” he says.
The Convert premieres tonight at the Events Cinema in Newmarket.