A remarkable Māori-led documentary exploring the hidden connections between whales, kiore, kauri and people is set to open the 2026 Doc Edge Festival, bringing a uniquely Aotearoa story of whakapapa, science and environmental stewardship to national and international audiences.
Unlikely Kin (Whales, Rats & Kauri), directed by filmmaker Mike Jonathan and produced by Tohorā Films, follows respected environmental advocate Hori Parata and his whānau on a journey that challenges conventional understandings of nature, identity and interconnectedness.
What begins as an exploration of seemingly unrelated species evolves into a profound examination of whakapapa, revealing how Indigenous knowledge, environmental science and lived experience intersect in unexpected and powerful ways.
For director Mike Jonathan, the project began with a fascination for Hori Parata’s work and worldview.
Parata has long been recognised for his deep commitment to environmental restoration and Māori-led conservation initiatives. His ability to weave together mātauranga Māori and scientific inquiry provided the foundation for a story that extends far beyond traditional environmental documentaries.
As filming progressed, the project evolved from a simple exploration of ecological relationships into something far more personal.
At its heart, the documentary asks fundamental questions about connection: how people relate to the natural world, how ecosystems are intertwined, and what can be learned when Indigenous perspectives are placed at the centre of environmental conversations.
The result is a film that blends science, whakapapa and storytelling in ways that challenge audiences to rethink their relationship with the world around them.
The film’s title reflects three unlikely but deeply significant elements of Aotearoa’s natural environment.
Whales have long held cultural significance within Māori traditions, often viewed as ancestors, guardians and navigators connected to the wider moana.
Kiore, the Polynesian rat, arrived with the first voyaging ancestors and remains an important part of discussions around migration, ecology and cultural history.
Kauri, among the oldest and most revered living organisms in Aotearoa, stand as enduring symbols of resilience, connection and environmental responsibility.
While these species may initially appear unrelated, Unlikely Kin explores the intricate relationships that connect them—and, ultimately, connect all living things.
The documentary invites audiences to consider how ecological systems function not as isolated components, but as interconnected networks shaped by both natural processes and human actions.
One of the defining features of the film is the relationship between the filmmakers and the whānau at its centre.
Documentary storytelling often depends on trust, particularly when exploring personal histories, cultural knowledge and deeply held values.
Over several years, Mike Jonathan and the Tohorā Films team worked closely alongside Hori Parata and his whānau, allowing relationships to develop naturally and ensuring the story remained authentic to the people involved.
That long-term commitment has enabled the film to move beyond observation and into a more intimate space, capturing not only environmental themes but also the emotional and cultural dimensions of the kaupapa.
The result is a documentary grounded in genuine relationships rather than simply documenting events from the outside.
The selection of Unlikely Kin as the opening night film for Doc Edge 2026 represents a significant milestone for Māori storytelling.
Doc Edge has become one of the Asia-Pacific region’s most respected documentary festivals, providing a platform for stories that challenge, inspire and inform audiences around the world.
For Māori filmmakers, the recognition reflects growing international interest in Indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship, sustainability and cultural resilience.
As climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation continue to dominate global conversations, films such as Unlikely Kin offer alternative ways of understanding humanity’s place within the natural world.
Rather than positioning people as separate from nature, the film draws upon Māori concepts of interconnectedness and collective responsibility.
The documentary arrives at a time when Aotearoa is increasingly grappling with questions about environmental protection, freshwater management, biodiversity and climate adaptation.
Across the country, iwi and hapū are playing leading roles in conservation efforts, river restoration projects and ecological regeneration initiatives grounded in tikanga and mātauranga Māori.
Unlikely Kin contributes to those conversations by highlighting how Indigenous knowledge systems can help inform responses to contemporary environmental challenges.
The film’s message is ultimately one of connection—between people, species, landscapes and generations.
For audiences attending Doc Edge, Unlikely Kin promises more than a story about whales, kiore or kauri.
It is a reflection on belonging, responsibility and whakapapa.
It is a reminder that environmental issues are not simply scientific challenges but cultural and human ones as well.
And it is an example of how Māori storytelling continues to offer powerful insights into some of the most important questions facing the world today.
As the lights go down on opening night, Unlikely Kin will place a uniquely Māori perspective at the centre of an international stage—inviting audiences to see the world not as separate parts, but as a living network of relationships that binds us all.
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