The inaugural Ng? Aho Whakaari M?ori Screen Awards were presented last week at a Gala Ball at Auckland's Stamford Plaza Hotel. Wift members Cinco Cine and Christina Milligan were lucky recipients. A heartfelt mihi on your success!
In celebration of 20 years of advocacy, professional development and capacity-building, Ng? Aho Whakaari, the M?ori screen production organisation, honoured these recipients:
NG? AHO WHAKAARI INAUGURAL M?ORI SCREEN INDUSTRY AWARDS
1. TE POU TAIOREORE New Zealand Film Commission Super Hero Award for taking M?ori 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 M?NGAI P?HO Pitch Winner
RECIPIENT: MOEMOEA MOHOAWHENUA
5. TE POU T?HOTO M?ORI 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'
- TE POU MAROHI NG? 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 K?KIRI AWARD For Contribution To Te Reo M?ori & The Development Of The M?ori 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 M?ori was the issue fundamental to all discussion and the new structure and strategy for the language, Te M?t?wai, was a hot topic.
The NZ Film Commission announced the 2017 Ramai Hayward Scholarship - a $50,000 fund to help two M?ori 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. Ng? 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 M?ori Screen Gala Ball & Awards are sponsored by: NZ Film Commission, M?ori Television Service, Te M?ngai Paho, Te Puni K?kiri, NZ On Air, Park Road Post, South Pacific Pictures and the NZ Peace Foundation.
Ng? Aho Whakaari is the national representative body for M?ori 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.
Ng? Aho Whakaari means the "strands of many visions" and encapsulates representation of the many M?ori who work within the industry, the diversity of productions and collective aspirations.