Whakamana | Advocate
The primary role of Ngā Aho Whakaari is to represent Māori in screen industries. As a strategic tangata whenua partner in advocating and building relationships with government, the screen sector and related communities, these include:
- Representing Māori aspirations & indigenous voices to the world.
- Supporting te reo & tikanga māori goals for the sector with Te Māngai Pāho.
- Strategic tangata whenua partner to the NZ Film Commission.
- Development and capacity building in screen industries.
- Cultural Competency advisory.
- Policy response submissions.
- Advisory for tangata whenua nominations to scholarships, awards & governance roles.
Whakatika | Elevate Tāngata whenua, Te Ao Māori & the Screen Industry
We hold hui, workshops and professional development events run by Māori screen practitioners & experts across all aspects of Television, Film and Creative Screen industries . These include:
- Ngā Aho Shorts development wānanga
- "Ngā Aho Whakaari presents…" leading conversations with panels at various national industry events.
- Hui-ā-Tau – National Indigenous Hui in Aotearoa.
- Ngā Aho Whakaari membership scholarships for select event attendances, supported by NZFC.
Whakanuia | Celebrate Māori Excellence & the Global Indigenous Voice.
Ngā Aho Whakaari sponsors and participates in a range of Māori and Indigenous Screen Industry Events including Festivals, Summits, and Māori Awards. We acknowledge and celebrate the skill, talent, excellence and achievements of our people that represent Aotearoa, NZ to the world. We support the following kaupapa:
- Māorilands Film Festival
- Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival
- Wairoa Māori Film Festival
- FIFO (International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival)
- Big Screen Symposium
- WIFT NZ Awards
- ScreenfitNZ
- DocedgeNZ
Collaboration and Industry Relationships
Ngā Aho Whakaari values meaningful, reciprocal relationships and collaboration with key industry organisations to opportunities for our members. Collaborations include:
- SCREENFITNZ, in partnership with Pacific Islands Screen Artists & Equity NZ.
- Mana Wahine Award, in partnership with WIFTNZ.
- Māori Editors Workshop in partnership with DEGANZ.
- Documentary pitch opportunities with DOCEDGE NZ.
- Work opportunities on local and international productions.
- Panel & Speaker representation to industry events.
Resources
The Brown Book: A guide to working with Māori in the screen industry.
Written by: Dr. Ella Henry and Melissa Wikaire
Published by: Ngā Aho Whakaari: Association of Māori in Screen Production