Maori Screen Awards Presented
Award winner: Taika Waititi
The inaugural Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori Screen Awards were presented last night at a Gala Ball at Auckland’s Stamford Plaza Hotel.
In celebration of 20 years of advocacy, professional development and capacity-building, Ngā Aho Whakaari, the Māori screen production organisation, honoured these recipients:
NGĀ AHO WHAKAARI INAUGURAL MĀORI SCREEN INDUSTRY AWARDS
1. TE POU TAIOREORE New Zealand Film Commission Super Hero Award for taking Māori film to the universe and beyond.
RECIPIENT: TAIKA WAITITI
2. TE POU TAUNAKI NZ ON AIR Award For contribution to capacity building and bringing in new talent.
RECIPIENT: CINCO CINE
3. TE POU AWEAWE SOUTH PACIFIC PICTURES Award For Inspirational Creativity On Screen
RECIPIENT: FRED RENATA
4. TE POU TAIRANGA TE MĀNGAI PĀHO Pitch Winner
RECIPIENT: MOEMOEA MOHOAWHENUA
5. TE POU TŪHOTO MĀORI TELEVISION TREATY PARTNERSHIP AWARD For his unerring support and discerning ears.
RECIPIENT: DICK READE
6. TE POU TAKITAKI PARK ROAD POST Post Production Package:
RECIPIENT: ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY
7. TE POU TATAU POUNAMU NZ PEACE FOUNDATION AWARD For their contribution to peace and aroha.
RECIPIENT: KIM WEBBY & CHRISTINA MILLIGAN & ROGER GRANT– ‘THE PRICE OF PEACE’
8. TE POU MAROHI NGĀ AHO WHAKAARI MELISSA WIKAIRE MEMORIAL AWARD - For her tenacity and strength in bringing our stories to the screen.
RECIPIENT: BRIAR GRACE-SMITH
9. TE POU IHIIHI TE PUNI KŌKIRI AWARD For Contribution To Te Reo Māori & The Development Of The Māori Screen Industry
RECIPIENT: DEREK FOX
The awards ceremony capped off a two-day Hui at Auckland University’s Waipapa Marae, in which promotion of Te Reo Māori was the issue fundamental to all discussion and the new structure and strategy for the language, Te Mātāwai, was a hot topic.
The NZ Film Commission announced the 2017 Ramai Hayward Scholarship – a $50,000 fund to help two Māori women directors develop feature film projects over the coming year.
NZ On Air presented the NZ Media Fund, its new platform-agnostic funding model, for discussion. Ngā Aho Whakaari announced its own short film development and funding initiative and broadcasters’ programme commissioners heard programme pitches for the $5000 prize announced at the awards ceremony.
The Hui and Māori Screen Gala Ball & Awards are sponsored by: NZ Film Commission, Māori Television Service, Te Māngai Paho, Te Puni Kōkiri, NZ On Air, Park Road Post, South Pacific Pictures and the NZ Peace Foundation.
Ngā Aho Whakaari is the national representative body for Māori working in screen production including film, television, digital and gaming in New Zealand. Members range from actors, directors and independent production companies to presenters, producers, technicians, writers and broadcasting students and educators.
Ngā Aho Whakaari means the “strands of many visions” and encapsulates representation of the many Māori who work within the industry, the diversity of productions and collective aspirations.