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April Pānui
Tēnā koutou e te whānau,
He maha ngā kaupapa kei roto i tēnei pānui, nō reira kāore au e roa te kōrero. Heoi anō, he pūrongo poto tēnei mō ngā mahi kua tutuki tata nei.
It’s been a busy and productive month for Ngā Aho Whakaari, and I’d like to share a quick update on some of the key highlights:
- Manatū Taonga – the Ministry for Culture and Heritage – is currently considering reforms to modernise regulation and content funding arrangements. These could have significant implications for our sector. We collaborated with Kawea te Rongo and made a detailed submission to the Media Reform Discussion Document, emphasising the need to ensure that Māori perspectives and te reo Māori are central to any new models, underpinned by Te Tiriti. Our submission can be read on our website
- We’re excited to share that Stacey Morrison has begun work on developing our Rautaki Reo Māori. Over the coming months, we’ll be seeking your whakaaro to help shape this important strategy.
- In addition, we’ve started collaborating with Rangiata Sky on an initiative to grow the pool of te reo Māori commentators in screen media – more details on that to come.
- A standout event last month was, of course, Māoriland Film Festival. We hear ticket sales were double last year’s – a testament to the growing appetite for Indigenous storytelling. A huge mihi to Festival Director (and Ngā Aho Whakaari board member) Madeleine Hakaraia de Young and her incredible team for delivering such a powerful and uplifting kaupapa.
- Following Māoriland Film Festival we were honoured to host a special screening of the Academy Award-nominated documentary Sugarcance, at Silky Otter cinema in Ōrākei. Thanks to everyone who attended and a huge mihi to Chelsea Winstanley for leading a rich and intimate Q&A with the filmmakers and participants : Julian Brave Noisecat, Emily Kassie, Amber Morning Star Byars and Ed Archie Noisecat. He taonga tēnei, ā, e mihi ana mātou ki a rātou katoa.
We’ll be sharing updates soon on the next phase of Aho Shorts.
Please do check out this pānui for information on more upcoming events - we hope to see you soon.
Mauri ora ki a tātou katoa
Te Tumu Whakarae | Executive Director
Executive Coordinator | Membership Manager
Presented with the support of NZ On Air, join us to welcome in NZ Music month with this dynamic workshop designed for screen practitioners AND music creatives. We’ll explore the intersection of music and screen production and provide valuable insights into creative collaboration and key legal and cultural considerations.
Wānanga
12.30pm - 5.30pm
- Who’s Who? – Get to know key industry players
- Copyright & Cultural Considerations – Learn how to navigate legal rights and work respectfully with traditional Māori compositions.
- The Role of a Music Supervisor – Explore the many ways to integrate music into your screen project.
- Working with Composers – Case studies exemplifying a variety of approaches to creative collaboration
Whakawhanaungatanga
5.30pm – 7pm
- Kai, drinks and all-important networking
Showcase Performances
7pm – 8.30pm
- Featuring MELODOWNZ and Nikau Grace.
As current members you have the first opportunity to secure your spot.
Kia horo! Strictly limited spaces left.
12.30 – 8.30 pm, Wednesday 30th April
BIG FAN, 25 McDonald Street, Morningside, AKL
FREE access to members only - it's free and anyone can join as a member
WIFT NZ and Ngā Aho Whakaari present REBATE 101 - An Introduction to the NZ Screen Production rebate.
Delivered by NZFC : Mel Read, Senior Incentives Executive; and Jennifer Wilton and Marc Ashton, Co-production and Incentives Executives.
This interactive wānanga will cover:
- Introduction to the Co-Production and Incentives Team
- Overview of the NZSPR
- Eligibility criteria for New Zealand productions
- Application requirements and process
- Official Co-Productions and the NZSPR
These wānanga are being held in Auckland, Wellington and online.
Free to WIFT and NAW members.
Limited spaces available, all registration options found on the WIFT NZ website.
Kauwaka Te Ipurangi 2025
Kauwaka 2025 is an in-person event bringing together hapori Māori: thinkers, innovators, leaders, tech creatives, iwi with digital strategies, kaupapa Māori business internet users, mātanga, to collaborate in shaping a thriving, inclusive internet future.
Contribute to conversations, learn information from internet sector subject matter expertise, and come share in inspiration of visionary Māori leaders and entrepreneurs.
The event will cover a range of topics such as digital equity, online safety and social media, cybersecurity, Artificial intelligence, the intersection of tikanga, te reo Māori and te ao matihiko, indigenous sovereignty, domain name management, policy, whilst hearing from iwi taketake perspectives from Taiwan and Cook Islands.
Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington
13 -14 May, 2025
Free registration - limited spaces
Activator Screen Business Programme
Applications are now open for the Activator Screen Business Programme!
This kaupapa is designed for internationally minded, ambitious film and television professionals who want to enhance their business acumen and international networks and build commercially viable businesses.
Enhance your leadership skills and expand your industry networks through interactive workshops, expert training, and global market visits.
Applications close on Friday, May 16th.
The program runs from July to October 2025 for 12 talented producers. Plus, four scholarships are available with additional mentoring from Libertine Pictures and Hinterland!
Get ready to elevate your screen career—apply today!
NZWG (NZ Writer's Guild) has released a practical guide on using A.I. in screenwriting, covering copyright risks, ethical concerns and tips for safe, responsible use of A.I. tools in creative and production workflows.
Download and/or view the A.I Advice Handbook for Screenwriters on our Events and Resource page.
Tēnā koutou e te whānau,
He maha ngā kaupapa kei roto i tēnei pānui, nō reira kāore au e roa te kōrero. Heoi anō, he pūrongo poto tēnei mō ngā mahi kua tutuki tata nei.
It’s been a busy and productive month for Ngā Aho Whakaari, and I’d like to share a quick update on some of the key highlights:
- Manatū Taonga – the Ministry for Culture and Heritage – is currently considering reforms to modernise regulation and content funding arrangements. These could have significant implications for our sector. We collaborated with Kawea te Rongo and made a detailed submission to the Media Reform Discussion Document, emphasising the need to ensure that Māori perspectives and te reo Māori are central to any new models, underpinned by Te Tiriti. Our submission can be read on our website
- We’re excited to share that Stacey Morrison has begun work on developing our Rautaki Reo Māori. Over the coming months, we’ll be seeking your whakaaro to help shape this important strategy.
- In addition, we’ve started collaborating with Rangiata Sky on an initiative to grow the pool of te reo Māori commentators in screen media – more details on that to come.
- A standout event last month was, of course, Māoriland Film Festival. We hear ticket sales were double last year’s – a testament to the growing appetite for Indigenous storytelling. A huge mihi to Festival Director (and Ngā Aho Whakaari board member) Madeleine Hakaraia de Young and her incredible team for delivering such a powerful and uplifting kaupapa.
- Following Māoriland Film Festival we were honoured to host a special screening of the Academy Award-nominated documentary Sugarcance, at Silky Otter cinema in Ōrākei. Thanks to everyone who attended and a huge mihi to Chelsea Winstanley for leading a rich and intimate Q&A with the filmmakers and participants : Julian Brave Noisecat, Emily Kassie, Amber Morning Star Byars and Ed Archie Noisecat. He taonga tēnei, ā, e mihi ana mātou ki a rātou katoa.
We’ll be sharing updates soon on the next phase of Aho Shorts.
Please do check out this pānui for information on more upcoming events - we hope to see you soon.
Mauri ora ki a tātou katoa
Te Tumu Whakarae | Executive Director
Executive Coordinator | Membership Manager
Presented with the support of NZ On Air, join us to welcome in NZ Music month with this dynamic workshop designed for screen practitioners AND music creatives. We’ll explore the intersection of music and screen production and provide valuable insights into creative collaboration and key legal and cultural considerations.
Wānanga
12.30pm - 5.30pm
- Who’s Who? – Get to know key industry players
- Copyright & Cultural Considerations – Learn how to navigate legal rights and work respectfully with traditional Māori compositions.
- The Role of a Music Supervisor – Explore the many ways to integrate music into your screen project.
- Working with Composers – Case studies exemplifying a variety of approaches to creative collaboration
Whakawhanaungatanga
5.30pm – 7pm
- Kai, drinks and all-important networking
Showcase Performances
7pm – 8.30pm
- Featuring MELODOWNZ and Nikau Grace.
As current members you have the first opportunity to secure your spot.
Kia horo! Strictly limited spaces left.
12.30 – 8.30 pm, Wednesday 30th April
BIG FAN, 25 McDonald Street, Morningside, AKL
FREE access to members only - it's free and anyone can join as a member
WIFT NZ and Ngā Aho Whakaari present REBATE 101 - An Introduction to the NZ Screen Production rebate.
Delivered by NZFC : Mel Read, Senior Incentives Executive; and Jennifer Wilton and Marc Ashton, Co-production and Incentives Executives.
This interactive wānanga will cover:
- Introduction to the Co-Production and Incentives Team
- Overview of the NZSPR
- Eligibility criteria for New Zealand productions
- Application requirements and process
- Official Co-Productions and the NZSPR
These wānanga are being held in Auckland, Wellington and online.
Free to WIFT and NAW members.
Limited spaces available, all registration options found on the WIFT NZ website.
Kauwaka Te Ipurangi 2025
Kauwaka 2025 is an in-person event bringing together hapori Māori: thinkers, innovators, leaders, tech creatives, iwi with digital strategies, kaupapa Māori business internet users, mātanga, to collaborate in shaping a thriving, inclusive internet future.
Contribute to conversations, learn information from internet sector subject matter expertise, and come share in inspiration of visionary Māori leaders and entrepreneurs.
The event will cover a range of topics such as digital equity, online safety and social media, cybersecurity, Artificial intelligence, the intersection of tikanga, te reo Māori and te ao matihiko, indigenous sovereignty, domain name management, policy, whilst hearing from iwi taketake perspectives from Taiwan and Cook Islands.
Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington
13 -14 May, 2025
Free registration - limited spaces
Activator Screen Business Programme
Applications are now open for the Activator Screen Business Programme!
This kaupapa is designed for internationally minded, ambitious film and television professionals who want to enhance their business acumen and international networks and build commercially viable businesses.
Enhance your leadership skills and expand your industry networks through interactive workshops, expert training, and global market visits.
Applications close on Friday, May 16th.
The program runs from July to October 2025 for 12 talented producers. Plus, four scholarships are available with additional mentoring from Libertine Pictures and Hinterland!
Get ready to elevate your screen career—apply today!
NZWG (NZ Writer's Guild) has released a practical guide on using A.I. in screenwriting, covering copyright risks, ethical concerns and tips for safe, responsible use of A.I. tools in creative and production workflows.
Download and/or view the A.I Advice Handbook for Screenwriters on our Events and Resource page.