A Black Iris Production

19/01/2026

This is what happens when you head out of town for Christmas and forget to pick that last courgette. Monster.
Ngā mihi kia koutou to everyone who participated in ONCE WERE GARDENERS and everyone who worked on it and all the people who have enjoyed it. It was an absolute joy to make. Have a great raumati break and let the sun and the rain be kind to your hua. Poipoia te kākano, kia puāwai. Karawhiua! 🌿 🖤

23/11/2025

We are over the moon to bring home these two awards at The New Zealand Screen Awards

This project was a huge undertaking and took many people, and many years to bring to life.

Thank you Executive Producer Kay Ellmers for your calm confidence and support. The beautiful cinematography of Dominic Fryer, Mike Jonathan, Tom Fowlie and Simon Ogston. Mihi to Corinna Hunziker who we roped in at the last minute to do a shoot while I was in Berlin freaking out. Colleen Brennan and Deb Frame for more than sound. Thank you Joel Haines for your magical music, and Amy Barber for the sound design you do and don’t even tell me. David McLaren for the beautiful grade and still listening when I keep saying darker richer cinematic. Big ups to Gary Leano for the GFX, Joseph Grigg for all the tech I have no idea about. Vanessa Hawken and Heidi Saltar for the CR and CD stuff I really hate but you love. Thank you Thomas Gleeson and Cushla Dillon. This was a big kaupapa to sit with. There is a heaviness that stays. I get it. Thank you. I feel strongly that every story is different and every story has a natural way of being told. Big mihi to Māori+ and Marama Jones for trusting the process and not trying to make it something else. Thank you for letting this happen. Mihi to you Lee Kershaw Karaitiana for your calm and measured wise thoughts and input. This was a co-fund project. Thank you NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho because without you this story would not have been told and we are so very lucky to have you so we can keep telling our own stories.

Most importantly .... to Arohatonu, Tristin and Lesley. You are three incredible wāhine toa. Stories can make change. Without you we are nothing. Mauri Ora.

26/10/2025

ONCE WERE GARDENERS: A new series rooted in the past, growing for the future.

Premieres TONIGHT at 7pm on Māori+ and Whakaata Māori 🌱

Mihi to NZ On Air and Māori+ for their tautoko.

23/10/2025

We are honored to be nominated for two awards at this years The New Zealand Screen Awards. Big mihi to Māori+ Te Māngai Pāho NZ On Air for their tautoko.

Me aro koe ki te hā o Hineahuone ❤❤❤
Mauri Ora !

04/08/2025

Ngā mihi Perlina Lau and Tania Page from RNZ for having me. https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/show/motuhaketanga

A new intimate two-part documentary delves into the transformative journeys of three wāhine Māori as they prepare to leave prison.

18/06/2025

We’ve been working on a very special project for a few years and it goes out into the world this Monday June 23 at 830pm on Whakaata Māori and then online via Māori+

This is a Matariki story of 3 women and their resilience. It’s a story about how important mothers are and how we should be respected. We are the ultimate creators.

Please watch it and tell your friends and whānau to watch it.

We all live on this same strange yet magical place together. Let’s support each other, know each other, love each other.

Mauri ora!

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20/05/2025

Me aro koe ki te hā o hine-ahu-one | Pay attention to the dignity of women

Three wāhine | One journey home
MOTUHAKETANGA | COMING SOON

15/02/2024

Lovely to see the hīkoi our film Whirlflow is on. Made for the Going West Books and Writers Festival, journeyed to Wellington for the inaugural Aotearoa Poetry Film Festival, to the fabulous ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto, to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery as part of the Wairoa Maori Film Festival Inc., and now to Māoriland! So proud. Tiny budget, creative people, shot in 1 day. Boom. We can make beautiful things. Amber Esau, James Littlewood, José Alberto De Hoyos, Jack Woon. Mauri Ora.