There was plenty happening across te ao kiriata last month, but one launch stood out. HBO Max officially arrived in Aotearoa.
Warner Bros. Discovery celebrated the launch with a special event at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre, where Te Whare Karioi welcomed guests with a pōwhiri and a powerful kapa haka performance. It was a fitting way to welcome one of the world’s biggest entertainment brands to Aotearoa.
The new streaming platform brings together one of the strongest catalogues in entertainment, featuring HBO favourites including Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, The White Lotus and The Sopranos, alongside Warner Bros. films, DC titles, Discovery programming and Max Originals.
The launch also highlights Aotearoa’s own connection to one of HBO’s biggest franchises. Māori actress Keisha Castle-Hughes, who captured the world’s attention in Whale Rider, joined Game of Thrones in 2015 as the fearless Obara Sand, becoming one of the few Māori actors to appear in the globally acclaimed fantasy series.
Behind the scenes, New Zealand has also played its part. Wellington-based Wētā FX contributed visual effects work on the later seasons of Game of Thrones, adding another Aotearoa connection to one of television’s most influential series.
HBO has spent decades setting the benchmark for premium television, producing award-winning dramas that have helped redefine modern storytelling. With HBO Max now available in Aotearoa, Kiwi audiences have direct access to one of the world’s most celebrated entertainment libraries.
From a kapa haka welcome on the Auckland waterfront to Māori talent on screen and New Zealand creativity behind the scenes, HBO Max’s arrival is another reminder that Aotearoa continues to leave its mark on the global entertainment industry.
