WHAT WE DO

Our main focus is the advancement and protection of Māori moving images, culture and language, and the professional development and growth of independent Māori film and television production.

In any given year, we are actively involved in a number of initiatives aimed at furthering this objective. For instance, we are currently working with the NZ Film Commission on an initiative, known as Te Paepae Ataata, to establish a Paepae of Māori industry practitioners and experts to oversee the development of Māori cinema projects by Māori key creatives. We are also working on other major projects, including: an initiative, supported by the NZ Film Commission and Te Puni Kōkiri, to develop a handbook of protocols for working with Māori content and communities for the guidance of the film and television industries; and another initiative, in conjunction with Te Māngai Pāho (the Māori broadcasting funding agency), its Television Advisory Group and Te Puni Kōkiri, in which we are investigating undertaking a capacity study of the Māori production community. 

Each year, we organise a National Conference, which continues to be the only occasion on which all sectors of Māori working in film and television in New Zealand have the opportunity to come together and discuss matters of importance to the Māori industry. In addition, we regularly conduct professional development training for our members, such as workshops and seminars for Māori writers, directors and producers.  

We work with a wide variety of groups and individuals to further our central objective. Examples include Māori Television, Te Pūtahi Pāho (Māori Television’s Electoral College), TVNZ, Te Māngai Pāho, NZ On Air and the Broadcasting Standards Authority with regard to television, and the NZ Film Commission, NZ Screen Council, Film NZ and Creative NZ’s Screen Innovation Production Fund for cinema.

We also have valuable relationships with other industry associations within NZ (eg. the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (NZ Actors Equity), NZ Film & Video Technicians Guild, NZ Writers Guild, Script-to-Screen, Screen Directors Guild of NZ, Screen Production and Development Association, and Women in Film & Television NZ) and with international groups, particularly First Nations film and television makers with whom we share a natural affinity.

Due to our representation of Māori industry practitioners, we have been appointed to the boards of Te Pūtahi Pāho and Script-to-Screen, and have two representatives who sit on Te Māngai Pāho’s Television Advisory Group.