Movies/documentaries about NZ Māori

Reznik

Hullo. Next on my list of random topics I want to learn about is the Māori of New Zealand. Movie/doc recommendations, please? In my brief search "Once Were Warriors" keeps popping up, so I found a copy of that though I haven't watched it yet. I have a particular interest in religion/folklore/mythology, so if there's anything that focuses a little more on that aspect it would be super cool, but really I'll take anything.

Thanks!

Flay

You might like Whale Rider, although it's fairly surface-level look at Maori culture and I couldn't say how accurate a picture it represents.

Fantasma

I am sorry, no movies or documentaries that I can recommend, but if you wish to read, there are some articles worth to try in wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Māori_people

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyd_Massacre

Kalkino

There should be a bunch of sites you can find on line for various resources.

For example, the Ministry of Maori Affairs, TPK, I think is responsible for promoting the Maori Language.

http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-focus/te-reo/
http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/english/index.shtml

TPK/the Crown funds various media - TV and radio.

Here is a list of Maori radio, community/crown etc

http://www.irirangi.net/

Maori TV - the public broadcaster

http://www.maoritelevision.com/

General NZ tv and film archives, that should be viewable overseas

http://www.nzonscreen.com/

Some classic docos or the other relevant tv/film

http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/tahere-tikitiki-the-making-of-a-maori-canoe-1974

http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/tama-tu-2004

http://www.nzonscreen.com/watch/all/te-reo (Maori language)

http://www.nzonscreen.com/watch/all/maori

Donovan Puppyfucker

Uh, Once Were Warriors is most definitely not a documentary. Or even really about Maori culture. The fact that the community in the film are mostly Maori is more of a setting for the story, rather than the focus of it. It's much more about domestic violence, drunkenness and abuse in an insular community. Like, read the plot synopsis on imdb.

Reznik

chrishallett83 wrote: »

Uh, Once Were Warriors is most definitely not a documentary. Or even really about Maori culture. The fact that the community in the film are mostly Maori is more of a setting for the story, rather than the focus of it. It's much more about domestic violence, drunkenness and abuse in an insular community. Like, read the plot synopsis on imdb.

I know it's not a doc. I'm not just looking for docs, but movies as well. I watched OWW today and thought it was a good film, and it did have some good bits about Maori culture (the guy at the boys home talking about the taiaha and teaching the boys the haka, Beth talking about the community she grew up in, explaining the buildings, the significance of her lineage vs. Jake's lineage, the tattoos, the funeral ceremony, etc.) So yeah it's not really about Maori culture but I could still get something out of it.

kaliyama

@Bastables is an expert here and you should consult him.

Kalkino

kaliyama wrote: »

@Bastables is an expert here and you should consult him.

Oh, does he speak Maori? Good on him

Anyway OP, you could do worse than just emailing some of the cultural groups that you should be able to find online. They may have other less easy to find resources.

Also, do a search on YouTube for Kapa-haka - there should be heaps of videos uploaded by kapa haka groups, of various activities. Often they tour as well - certainly to London anyway. I would imagine tours go to North America too sometimes too

Reznik

Awesome, thanks for the help guys/gals.

lonelyahava

There's a book out that you can get from Amazon called "Through the Eye of the Needle". It's a cultural anthropology text about the Maori. I have it on my shelf, I haven't read through it yet though. But I have read others in that series and they've all been very good.


It's sometimes tough to find the mythology/legends type books and stuff unless you're searching in a gift shop. or I could just be looking in the wrong places...

Kalkino

lonelyahava wrote: »

There's a book out that you can get from Amazon called "Through the Eye of the Needle". It's a cultural anthropology text about the Maori. I have it on my shelf, I haven't read through it yet though. But I have read others in that series and they've all been very good.


It's sometimes tough to find the mythology/legends type books and stuff unless you're searching in a gift shop. or I could just be looking in the wrong places...

Maybe head to the local university book shop and find the Maori section - it may have the recommended reading for various introductory courses in stock. Or, try and find a university MAOR reading list

Here is an example of such, although it is very brief

http://www.unibooks.co.nz/2013-otago-humanities/maori-studies

Fishman

May also want to look for James Belich's New Zealand Wars, either the Doco series or book.

It's come in for some academic criticism, but it's largely considered a solid piece of work

http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-new-zealand-wars-1998/series