We are Ngā Aho Whakaari

Ngā Aho Whakaari empowers, promotes and advocates for Māori voices and stories within the Aotearoa
New Zealand screen industry.

Our Whakapapa

Mā Muri Ka Tika a Mua

Over the past three decades, Ngā Aho Whakaari has been at the forefront of Māori self-determination to create, produce and represent their own stories on screen. 

Paving the way for the establishment of Ngā Aho Whakaari, was Te Manu Aute. In the 1980s, Te Manu Aute played a crucial role in driving the political agenda of Māori screen production. Like other pan-Māori organisations of the time, including the Te Reo Māori Society, Māori Women’s Welfare League, New Zealand Council, Ngā Kaiwhakapumau I te Reo, and Ngā Tamatoa, Te Manu Aute contributed to the resurgence of Te Reo Māori and cultural revitalisation efforts. Continuing this tradition, Te Manu Aute chose to do so as a loose coalition rather than a formal organisation, until the creation of Ngā Aho Whakaari as an incorporated society in 1996.

A network of Māori in Screen industries.

Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori in Screen is a legacy, not-for-profit organisation driven by a vision of cultural excellence, self-determination, and indigenous-led solutions by influential Māori in the screen industry.

Our mission is to actively support the global screen industries by uplifting tangata whenua & Indigenous creatives in advocating for their unique perspectives, narratives, and artistic expressions. We strive to strengthen the world where cultural appreciation thrives and authenticity is valued to empower excellence.

Our values

Find cast and talent

Whakamana: Empowering Māori in Screen

Find cast and talent

Whakatika: Advocacy for Māori in Screen

Find cast and talent

Whakanuia: Celebrating Māori in Screen

Ngā Aho Whakaari is a non-profit organisation that receives funding from the following sources to carry out its mahi.

Are you on the Māori Screen Directory yet?

If you're a member of Ngā Aho Whakaari, sign in and publish your profile on the Māori Screen Directory. Proudly brought to you by Ngā Aho Whakaari and Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission.

Our People

Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori in Screen board members are elected every two years from the Māori film and media arts industry. Its board have and always will be industry influencers, passionate about the future of Māori storytelling through the mediums of film and media arts. Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori in Screen has a small executive management team dedicated to the robust operations of the organisation's goals and memberships.

Piripi Curtis

Chair
Te Arawa, Ngāti Rongomai, Ngāti Pikiao, Tainui

Julian Wilcox

Deputy Chair
Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa

Madeleine Hakaraia De Young

Treasurer
Ngāti Kapu

Whatanui Flavell

Board Member
Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāpuhi, Taranaki iwi, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Whānau a Apanui

Michael Toki-Pangari

Board Member
Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa

Peata Melbourne

Board Member
Tuhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou

Kirstin Te Wao-Edmonds

Board Member
Te Arawa, Waikato, Hāmoa

Kay Ellmers

Tumu Whakarae | Executive Director
Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Raukawa

Lanita Ririnui

Aho Shorts Executive Producer
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, Tauranga Moana, Tumutevarovaro

Sonara Southcombe-Wallace

Executive Coordinator | Board Secretary
Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Mutunga (Taranaki), Ngāti Pākehā

Tracey-Lee Repia

Executive Finance
Ngāpuhi
Our Hisory

We go way back.

Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori in Screen is a non-profit organisation which began in 1996 with the purpose of empowering Māori professionals to thrive in screen industries.

1996

Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori in Screen is formed after a series of hui called by Māori film and television practitioners concerned that Māori should be accurately represented in the development of Māori broadcasting by Government.

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sign up

Ngā Aho Whakaari Membership

It's free to join the Ngā Aho Whakaari network.

Select your membership tier

Pae Matua - Member
Screen industry members with whakapapa Māori and a minimum of 2 years experience.
Voting rights.
Priority access to Ngā Aho Whakaari exclusive events and workshops.
Access to development opportunities and scholarships.
The benefits of discounted associations with our partners.
Rangatahi - Associate
Rangatahi Māori 18+ years old who have less than 2 years experience in the industry.
Voting rights.
Access to some development opportunities, scholarships and networking opportunities.
Pae Tautoko - Friend
Screen industry practitioners 18+ years old outside the Pae Matua and Rangatahi Māori categories. (Tāngata Tiriti & global Indigenous whānau).
Access to Pānui subscription.
Access to some development opportunities, scholarships and networking opportunities.
Pae Tautoko
Whānau, allies or supporters who are not practitioners but want to stay up to date on news and events at Ngā Aho Whakaari.
No voting rights.
*Voting rights are dependent on individuals meeting the above membership criteria of Pae Matua and Pae Tahi.