Awa Films

08/07/2025

📍 Auckland – Bridgeway Cinema, The Capitol
🕖 Sunday 13 July, 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM
📍 Wellington – The Roxy
🕐 Sunday 16 July, 8:15 PM
📍 Christchurch – Lumière Cinemas
🕐 Sunday 18 July, 8:15 PM
We'd love to see you and your whānau there.
Grab your tickets: Link in bio or https://docedge.nz/events/mana-moana-mana-tangata/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkPTE2BOQzk

A gripping feature length documentary chronicling Māori in a defiant struggle against systematic racism and colonial injustice to reclaim their fishing right...

30/06/2025

Behind the Brush - Seasons 1 & 2 are now streaming on YouTube!

Step into the world behind Gottfried Lindauer’s iconic portraits of Māori. This powerful docuseries brings the painted ancestors to life - sharing the stories, whakapapa, and mana of the tūpuna who sat for the artist over a century ago.

Created with the funding from Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air

Watch now! Link to our YouTube in the bio

31/05/2025

From the bounty of the sea, we sustain our future generations.

A gripping film chronicling Māori in a defiant struggle against systemic racism and colonial injustice to reclaim their fishing rights. Through resilience and legal strategy, they secured their place in the industry, marking a landmark victory for Indigenous sovereignty. Thirty years later, the fight for equity and environmental stewardship continues.

A universal story of justice and perseverance, the film captures both triumph and ongoing struggle, revealing how Indigenous communities worldwide navigate power, reclaim their culture, and resist colonisation.

Directed by Sonny Arahanga and Toby Mills.
Screening Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and virtually at Doc Edge festival.

Get your tickets here:

In this compelling film, the battle to save Māori fishing rights unfolds as a powerful tale of resilience and determination. 

24/04/2025

Our editor and good human Danny Mulholland aka Edmund Skillary suggested we put these films on YouTube for all to see. They are a collection of ANZAC films we've made for NZ television that centre around stories of individuals caught in the ugly world of war.

06/04/2025

🎧 The Stolen Children of Aotearoa — a powerful new podcast airs TOMORROW on RNZ.

Investigative journalist Aaron Smale and filmmaker Julian Arahanga dive deep into the untold stories of Māori survivors who faced abuse in state care. This gripping series traces the trauma that continues to haunt many, and uncovers the generational impact of an unjust system.

Tune in to hear the voices of those who lived through it, as they demand justice and raise awareness for a chapter in Aotearoa's history that must never be forgotten.

🔗 Listen now: https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/the-stolen-children-of-aotearoa

Made with the support of NZ On Air, Te Māngai Pāho, and created in partnership with Māori TV.

31/03/2025

The Stolen Children of Aotearoa TELEVISION PREMIERE tonight at 8:30pm on maoriplus.co.nz

26/03/2025

Nau Mai Haere Mai ki Maoriland Film Festival.
Stolen Children is premiering at this Friday 28th 1pm. Be great to see you there in person to honour the brave survivors of state care and celebrate this beautiful important documentary.
Māoriland Film Festival, 1pm Friday March 28th - https://mff.maorilandfilm.co.nz/

26/03/2025

BTS – Stolen Children of Aotearoa
Ngā mihi aroha to the courageous survivors who have so generously entrusted us with their stories. Deep thanks also to all the participants and our hardworking crew, who have poured their time, heart, and energy into creating this powerful documentary.

Join us for a special screening and premiere at – 1pm, Friday 28 March:
🎟️ https://mff.maorilandfilm.co.nz

Then airing on at 8:30pm, Monday 31 March,
and available afterwards on the Māori+ platform (NZ audiences only):
📺 https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/show/the-stolen-children-of-aotearoa
Made with the Support of , on Air and

05/03/2025

The Stolen Children of Aoteroa,
Premiering at Māoriland Film Festival, Friday 1pm March 28th. Buy your tickets at iTicket/Maoriland/Documentaries

12/02/2025

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/541577/maoriland-film-festival-to-showcase-more-than-100-films-from-86-indigenous-nations

The te reo Māori version of Dreamworks classic animation Shrek will premiere among the 86 films screening at Māoriland Film Festival.

02/12/2024

Ram Raid Mums: How a community is fighting to keep kids from crime.

TVNZ - Monday 2 December at 7.30pm

29/10/2024

Matiu's te reo journey got its start at school through Kapa haka and waiata. He shares his inspirational story of finding strength in the land, meditation and his passion for music.
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Presented by Nepia Takuira-Mita, Te Reo Rangatira is a series that focuses on the revitalisation of the Māori language by following the journey of those who have risen to the challenge of learning Te Reo Māori as a second language.

Each person shares their personal challenges with identity, whānau, iwi, mahi, and mental health and how learning reo has enriched their lives.
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I tīmata te haerenga reo o Matiu i te kura nā te kapa haka, nā te waiata anō hoki. Ka kōrerotia e ia tana kōrero whakaohooho mō tana whai kaha mai i te whenua, i te whakaāio wairua, i tana
ngākau whiwhita ki te puoro anō hoki.
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E whakatakina ana e Nepia Takuira-Mita, ko Te Reo Rangatira tētahi hōtaka e aro ake ana ki te whakarauora i te reo Māori mā te whai i ngā haerenga o te hunga kua kawe i te mānuka o te ako i Te Reo Māori hei reo tuarua.

Ka kōrerotia e ia tangata ōna ake wero ā-whaiaro mō te tuakiri, mō te whānau, mō te iwi, mō te mahi, mō te hauora ā-hinengaro anō hoki, ā, me ngā hua haumako ki ngā ao o tēnā, o tēnā kua ahu mai i te ako i te reo.

Matiu's te reo journey got its start at school through Kapa haka and waiata. He shares his inspirational story of finding strength in the land, meditation an...