Wairoa Maori Film Festival

The Fourth Annual Wairoa Māori Film Festival will mark the dawn of Matariki. Running for four days, this year's festival theme is Peace: "Kia Tau Te Rangimarie - Peace In Our Time."

Thursday 18th:
The festival kicks off with a special opening evening of archival films relating to the local Nuhaka and Mahia area, including a special bonus film premiere featuring local celebrity dolphin "Moko". This screening will occur at Kahungunu Marae, Nuhaka, 7 p.m.

Friday 19th:
On the Friday, the festival moves to Wairoa with a lunchtime Powhiri at Taihoa Marae and an opening night gala at the Wairoa War Memorial Hall. Four new Maori short films will be screened, followed by a special feature WORLD PREMIERE of new digital feature independent film "RUA."

Saturday 20th:
Taihoa Marae will be the focus of activities on Saturday with a Marae Community Day comprising film screenings, live music performance, an Audio-Visual installation space, arts stalls, kai stalls and a bouncy castle for the kids. The day concludes with the centre piece of the festival comprising the Wairoa Maori Film Festival Awards night at the War Memorial Hall. A night of performance of local Wairoa talent is planned, including hit of last year's festival Billy T.K. Sr. Experience.

Sunday 21st:
The festival concludes with one further day of film screenings at Taihoa Marae, and a special feature presentation of "Rain of the Children", Vincent Ward's stunning documentary filmed in the hinterlands of Wairoa at Ruatahuna and Maungapohatu.

Matariki, the Māori New Year, is the Māori name for the small cluster of stars known as the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. Matariki lies within the Taurus constellation and rises only once a year.

Event listed by maorimovies

View their other events or contact promoter