New Zealand web video series to be made in Te Reo Māori language

A new move by New Zealand’s television funding agencies will give a small boost to the underfunded Māori filmmaking industry, with two new web series set to be produced in the Māori language, Te Reo Maori.

Public funding bodies New Zealand on Air and Te Māngai Pāho (the Māori broadcasting funding agency) this week announced a new fund worth NZ$500 000 for the creation of five Māori webseries, two of which must be made in Te Reo Maori. 

The association for Māori creative professionals in the screen industry, Ngā Aho Whakaari said the new fund was a welcome opportunity to tell stories “by Māori and for Māori”.

“We believe that these stories should be seen by audiences on all of our government funded and supported broadcasters but also embrace this opportunity to reach viewers through digital media as well.  We are pleased to see both funding agencies working together to enable the production of Māori focussed content and looks forward to more funding collaborations in the future” Ngā Aho Whakaari’s chairperson Kim Muriwai told Pacific Media Watch.