MŌ TE ĀTEA premieres at 7.30 PM Friday 28 June (Matariki) with the first episode featuring a mōteatea about Matariki and the journeys of Taramainuku, on Whakaata Māori and MĀORI+.

Casey Kaa (Ngāpuhi, Tainui) of Takitini Productions, says the series was conceived as a way of integrating our oldest form of storytelling with a new contemporary style of storytelling - animation.

“Mōteatea carry ancient rhythms, they are the primary source of oratory lineage, our link to our reo, our tūpuna, our atua.

“We used an anime influence to design an animated Māori world, where we were then able to express elements of te ao Māori in a visual format,” says Casey Kaa.

“MŌ TE ĀTEA brings into focus ideas and concepts that we dream about, that express who we are, and are a direct line to the stories of each composer.

“The series is a gateway into a world unseen, a world that we feel, that we express through waiata, that we lament, and express ourselves through,” says Casey.

“It was no small task turning these imagined and unseen worlds into picture form – a process that took care and attention.”

Coming up on MŌ TE ĀTEA:

EPISODE 1*: FRIDAY 28 JUNE 7.30 PM – JEREMY TĀTERE MACLEOD (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Ātiawa, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Apa) – Matariki – Taramainuku comes to life, through animation. Dr Jeremy Tātere Macleod and Professor Rangi Mātāmua share with us tales of Matariki and the journey through the stars.

EPISODE 2: FRIDAY 5 JULY 7.30 PM – MANA EPIHA (Ngāpuhi) – Te Tauwhanga a Reipae: Based on the rangahau carried out by Mana Epiha’s māmā, Meryl Carter, we bring you ‘Te Tauwhanga a Reipae’ – the story of how Ueoneone famously wooed the beautiful twins from Tauranga Mirumiru, sending for them to be collected by his ‘manu’ nui.

EPISODE 3: FRIDAY 12 JULY 7.30 PM – MAHARA NICHOLAS (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi) – Te Komata o te Rangi ki Hawaiki – Way finder, Captain and name-finder, Mahara Nicholas explains the important duty of naming his irāmutu and how he came about his ingoa whilst journeying on Ngāhiraka mai Tawhiti.

EPISODE 4: FRIDAY 19 JULY 7.30 PM – GREG HENDERSON (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui) – Ngā Uri o te Raupatu – Calling on warriors of the 19th and 20th centuries, this mōteatea signals a call to action. Composer Greg Henderson explains the history of attacks on Waikato and how we must, to this day, stand together for the betterment of all.

EPISODE 5: FRIDAY 26 JULY 7.30 PM – TE WAIRERE NGAIA (Ngāpuhi, Tainui) – He Apakura mō te Taiohi – A lament of the many taiohi who have responded to the call of Hine-nui-i-te-pō. Te Wairere Ngaia and her ākonga explain to us the lessons learned during a challenging period of loss for the kura.

EPISODE 6: FRIDAY 2 AUGUST 7.30 PM – TATAI HENARE (Ngāti Hine) – Pōtaka Tā – Journey through the far reaches of Te Whare o Puhi in pursuit of the humble spinning top, pōtaka tā. Tatai Henare explains the simplicity involved in his composition and his philosophies on storytelling.

EPISODE 7: FRIDAY 9 AUGUST 7.30 PM – TĪMOTI KĀRETU (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu) – Hikitia – Follow the kahu kōrako around Kahungunu as we share in the tales of the eponymous leader and the history of the women along his path.

This series is funded by Te Māngai Pāho.

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