From this Wednesday through Sunday, Ōtaki will once again become the beating heart of indigenous cinema as the Māoriland Film Festival returns with over 130 films from 86 nations, celebrating global indigenous storytelling with heart, wairua and purpose.
Now in its 12th year, the festival continues to grow as the largest indigenous film festival in the world, offering a space where whānau, culture and creativity converge. Director Madeleine Hakaraia De Young says Māoriland thrives because it fosters belonging and showcases diverse indigenous perspectives.
“People return to Māoriland year after year because it gives them a sense of belonging,” De Young said. “Our success comes from bringing people together.”
This year’s theme, Ko te mauri, he mea huna ki te Moana, explores the global climate crisis and its impact on indigenous communities, urging audiences to reflect on the shared responsibility for our environment.
Among the standout features is Kōkā, a heartfelt story about an unlikely friendship between Māori elder Hamo and teen Jo. The film is also a linguistic milestone, being the first to use the East Cape dialect of Ngāti Porou.
French Polynesian film Te Puna Ora tells a powerful tale of resistance against corporate exploitation, while Canadian drama Aberdeen follows an indigenous woman displaced by climate change, highlighting the growing issue of climate refugees.
The festival also includes something for younger audiences, with Shrek: Kātahi Te Korokē, a te reo Māori dub of the beloved animated classic. The dub was born out of the passion of Ōtaki rangatahi and features a stellar local voice cast.
Rounding out the programme is Katie Wolfe’s The Haka Party Incident, a powerful documentary revisiting a pivotal moment in New Zealand’s cultural history and the protest that changed it.
Held in a town deeply rooted in te ao Māori and shaped by visionary iwi strategies like Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, Māoriland continues to build toward the future while honouring indigenous knowledge and creativity.
Tickets and full programme details are available at mff.maorilandfilm.co.nz.
