Useful Media

05/04/2025

A Minecraft Movie, made with support from the rebate, premiered in Auckland on Wednesday night.

26/03/2025

We're really proud to have contributed to the making of this documentary - The Stolen Children of Aotearoa - with Awa Films.
This documentary uncovers the dark history of the abuse of children in New Zealand’s state care system. Survivors speak about their lost childhood and the long fight for justice, as Aotearoa confronts the painful truth of its stolen children.
The film premieres at Māoriland – 1pm, Friday 28 March:
🎟️ https://mff.maorilandfilm.co.nz
Then screens on Whakaata Māori at 8:30pm, Monday 31 March.
It will be available online on Māori+ 📺 https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/movie/the-stolen-children-of-aotearoa
Made with the support of Te Māngai Pāho, NZ On Air and Whakaata Māori

31/01/2025

New sign! We have been at our offices on park road for years. We finally got a long-overdue sign on the outside of the building! Looking to get one for for the window too.

04/12/2024

We are so lucky to have had incredible interns over the years to pass our skills and knowledge to. The internship accelerates learning and boosts their careers. They are also so helpful when we are under the pump! Sophie Hampson was a delight to work with, creative with loads of initiative and an incredible writer. I may have shed a tear reading her summary of her internship with us at Useful Media. - Ness

I quickly learnt that a day in the Useful office is ever-changing and never boring, with there always being a different production to work on. The nature of filmmaking means there is constantly a myriad of tasks to complete, and a small team results in its members becoming multitalented and cultivat

21/11/2024

Photos from the Hikoi in Wellington.

31/10/2024

We're looking forward to this awesome series that Ruth co-produced and Ness production managed for Storybox. A big mihi to everyone involved. You can watch the series on Whakaata Māori weekly from November 4th at 7.30pm, or binge it all at https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/show/hua-parakore

07/10/2024

This is on in one month at the Wellington Museum on the waterfront.

Learn the rich history of Tapu Te Ranga Marae and its community through a film screening and floor talk.

05/07/2024

TONIGHT!
Join us for an electrifying showcase of the films from the highly anticipated 2024 Vista Foundation 48 Hours event!
Prepare to be captivated in the unparalleled talents of local filmmakers from your area.

Following the screenings, we'll honour the filmmakers with prestigious awards.

Classification - M - Offensive language and content that may disturb.

Vista Foundation 48Hours Wellington City Finals, Join us for an electrifying showcase of ..., Embassy Theatre, Wellington, Wellington Region, 5 July 2024,

05/07/2024

Atuatanga, Aotearoa’s first full-scale te reo Māori virtual reality game. Wellington public will get to experience this game free as part of the Doc Edge documentary festival Immersive Exhibition Impact Stories series, from now until 14 July at Te Auaha, Wellington.

A special event will be help on Monday 8 July 5.30PM at Te Auaha to celebrate Impact Storytelling, with creator Wiremu Grace, alongside Metramorphoses creator Laura Yilmaz.

Atuatanga , Aotearoa’s first full-scale te reo Māori virtual reality game. Wellington public will get to experience this game free as part of the Doc Edge documentary festival Immersive Exhibition Impact Stories series, from now until 14 July at Te Auaha, Wellington. A special event will be help

20/05/2024

We have been so busy working on the Vista Foundation 48Hours in the weekend that we didn't celebrate the premiere of LOKO on Māori tonight!

It is a one hour documentary cut shown for the first time!

You can catch it on Māori + right here - https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/movie/loko

29/02/2024

Aotearoa’s first full-scale te reo Māori virtual reality game launches at Māoriland festival. In a world first, Atuatanga VR combines high performance virtual reality gameplay with Indigenous knowledge to tackle the climate crisis.

11 am - 4 pm Thursday 21 - Sunday 24 March
Memorial Hall - Main Street, Ōtaki. Free entry (as capacity allows)

Check out our brand new teaser!

Atuatanga was produced by a highly skilled team of creatives with funding and support from the NZ Film Commission, Creative New Zealand and Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Read more: https://www.atuatanga.com/news/atuatangamaoriland

26/02/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qrHDuia3g4&ab_channel=Beyond

Episode One: Sir Richard Taylor, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Wētā Workshop