In this poetic short film, writer/director/songwriter Kararaina Rangihau tells a story of great significance to the Tūhoe people. Unfolding entirely in te reo Māori, the narrative follows a child (played by Te Ratauhina Tumarae) learning the origins to the waiata 'Taku Rākau E', from her great-grandmother (Menu Ripia). Flicking between the present day and 1873, the great-grandmother tells how Mihikitekapua, a blind women of Tūhoe (also played by Ripia), first sang this important waiata. Rangihau was mentored by prominent filmmaker Merata Mita, who produced the film with co-producer Chelsea Winstanley.
Cast
Crew
Kararaina Rangihau
Director, Writer
Dena Curtis
Editor
Grant McKinnon
Cinematography
Mike Jonathan
Cinematography
Pita Turei
Assistant Director
Matt Noonan
Executive Producer
Merata Mita
Producer
Chelsea Winstanley
Co-Producer
Okiwi Logan Shipgood
Production Designer
Amber Smith
Assistant Camera
Dick Reade
Sound Designer
Ethan Davis
Additional Sound Re-Recordist
Aaron Davis
Sound Recordist
Justin Kereama
Music Arranger