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Māori in Screen
Ngā Aho Whakaari
Ngā Aho Whakaari empowers and promotes Māori voices and stories within the Aotearoa
New Zealand screen industry.
Our Whakapapa
Mā Muri Ka Tika a Mua
Over the past three decades, Ngā Aho Whakaari has been at the forefront of Māori self-determination to create, produce and represent their own stories on screen.
Paving the way for the establishment of Ngā Aho Whakaari, was Te Manu Aute. In the 1980s, Te Manu Aute played a crucial role in driving the political agenda of Māori screen production. Like other pan-Māori organisations of the time, including the Te Reo Māori Society, Māori Women’s Welfare League, New Zealand Council, Ngā Kaiwhakapumau I te Reo, and Ngā Tamatoa, Te Manu Aute contributed to the resurgence of Te Reo Māori and cultural revitalisation efforts. Continuing this tradition, Te Manu Aute chose to do so as a loose coalition rather than a formal organisation, until the creation of Ngā Aho Whakaari as an incorporated society in 1996.
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A network of Māori in Screen industries.
Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori in Screen is a legacy, not-for-profit organisation driven by a vision of cultural excellence, self-determination, and indigenous-led solutions by influential Māori in the screen industry.
Our mission is to actively support the global screen industries by uplifting tangata whenua & Indigenous creatives in advocating for their unique perspectives, narratives, and artistic expressions. We strive to strengthen the world where cultural appreciation thrives and authenticity is valued to empower excellence.
Our values
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Whakamana: Empowering Māori in Screen
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Whakatika: Advocacy for Māori in Screen
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Whakanuia: Celebrating Māori in Screen
Empowering Māori in Screen
At Ngā Aho Whakaari, we are driven by our core values to be a platform for the development, visibility and advocacy for Māori in screen industries.
Advocacy & Support
Advocate for equitable representation, opportunities, and recognition for Māori storytellers on screen.
Building a Strong Māori Film Community
Strengthen the capacity and resilience of Māori screen practitioners through support systems from leadership to newcomers.
Promoting Māori in the Screen Industry
Promote collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation within the Māori screen industry.
Celebrating Māori filmmaking
From awards to sponsorships we celebrate our people and their work wherever possible.
Global Outreach
Strive for global outreach and connection, amplifying the voices of Māori storytellers worldwide, fostering cultural exchanges, and inspiring a global audience with the cultural excellence and authenticity of Māori storytelling.
Fund your short film with Ngā Aho Shorts.
Pitch your short film idea for the Ngā Aho Shorts 2024-2025 season! Proudly supported by Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission, Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air.
Our People
Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori in Screen board members are elected every two years from the Māori film and media arts industry. Its board have and always will be industry influencers, passionate about the future of Māori storytelling through the mediums of film and media arts. Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori in Screen has a small executive management team dedicated to the robust operations of the organisation's goals and memberships.
Piripi Curtis
Julian Wilcox
Madeleine Hakaraia De Young
Whatanui Flavell
Michael Toki-Pangari
Peata Melbourne
Kirstin Te Wao-Edmonds
Tracey-Lee Repia
Lanita Ririnui
Sonara Southcombe-Wallace
Olly Coddington
Join us
Ngā Aho Whakaari Membership
Our Membership Tiers reflect the way in which we connect as a community. Individual membership for industry professionals who whakapapa Māori is free. Core funding investment supports Ngā Aho Whakaari to run as a non-profit organisation, while various activities are delivered with fees to grow as a network of talented practitioners.
All memberships are verified for approval by the Ngā Aho Whakaari Executive Team and you can read up on our Membership Constitution Rules here.
Select your membership tier
This status is honorary (not for general application) and awarded by the Board and Executive Team.