Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Contemporary Dance
Contemporary Maori dance often takes its inspiration from
kapa haka
(cultural dance)
and traditional Maori imagery. The exploration of pre-European life also provides inspir-
ation. For example, a Maori choreographer, Moss Patterson, used
kokowai
(a body-ad-
orning paste made from reddish clay and shark oil) as the basis of his most recent piece
of the same name.
NZ's leading specifically Maori dance company is the
Atamira Dance Collective
(
www.atamiradance.co.nz
)
, which has been producing critically acclaimed, beautiful and
challenging work since 2000. If that sounds too earnest, another choreographer to watch
out for is Mika Torotoro, who happily blends
kapa haka
, drag, opera, ballet and disco in-
to his work. You can check out clips of his work at
www.mika.co.nz
.
The first NZ hip-hop song to become a hit was Dalvanius Prime's
Poi E,
which was sung
entirely in Maori by the Patea Maori Club. It was the highest-selling single of 1984 in NZ,
outselling all international artists.
Maori Film-Making
Although there had already been successful Maori documentaries (
Patu!
and the
Tangata Whenua
series are brilliant, and available from some urban video stores), it
wasn't until 1987 that NZ had its first fiction feature-length movie by a Maori director
with Barry Barclay's
Ngati
. Mereta Mita was the first Maori woman to direct a fiction
feature, with
Mauri
(1988). Both Mita and Barclay had highly political aims and ways of
working, which involved a lengthy preproduction phase, during which they would con-
sult with and seek direction from their
kaumatua
(elders). Films with significant Maori
participation or control include the harrowing
Once Were Warriors
and the uplifting
Whale Rider
. Oscar-shortlisted Taika Waititi, of Te Whanau-a-Apanui descent, wrote
and directed
Eagle vs Shark
and
Boy
.
Music plays an important role in traditional and contemporary Maori culture.
ence Maori film, with most showings being either free or relatively inexpensive. It has
offices in Auckland and Wellington.
