Matariki Collection

Matariki Collection

To mark Matariki NZ On Screen has today launched a special collection of iconic Māori television and films.

The collection has been curated by NZ On Screen's Māori Content Curator Whai Ngata, the former Head of TVNZ Māori Programmes.

Ngata says it was a pleasure and a privilege to curate the Matariki collection. "As someone who has been heavily involved in Māori broadcasting through the years, I really appreciated the opportunity to work on a project celebrating achievement in this area."

In making his choices for the collection, Ngata considered the significance of programmes in terms of both Māori social history and the development of Māori broadcasting, as well as the quality of the title itself.

"The titles I have chosen should not be seen in any order of merit, and the list does not detract in any way from the importance of and enjoyment given by many other programmes."

The titles in the Matariki collection include the early 1970s documentary series Tangata Whenua, made by Michael King, Barry Barclay and John O'Shea , and acknowledged as the first time Pākehā television viewers got a significant window into the Māori world. Also from the 1970s, is episode one of the landmark drama series The Governor, which gave a then rare Māori perspective on our colonial history.

The long-running TVNZ Māori Programmes' productions Koha, Te Karere, Waka Huia, and Marae also feature in the collection, as does TVNZ's coverage of the Te Maori exhibition and Te Arikinui, Dame Te Atairangikaahu the Māori Queen's Tangi.

Ngata acknowledges the talent of Māori entertainers on television, by including the work of Billy T James in his collection. He also includes the Māori biography series Pounamu, and the drama series Mataku, which told Māori supernatural stories.

The acclaimed New Zealand movies Ngati and Once Were Warriors is also in the collection, and Ngata says of Warriors: "this movie has to be included for highlighting the problem of domestic violence, not only among Māori, but all societies. It gave a very strong message of the huge problem that transcends race and social status."

The Matariki Collection, and over 550 other television, music video and film titles, are all available to view free of charge on www.nzonscreen.com

ENDS

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