Aotearoa’s latest animated series, Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki, premiered last week on Whakaata Māori +. This 10-part series, written, directed and animated by Rautini Conroy Thompson O’Brien with Māoriland Productions, brings to life a powerful Māori story of survival and resilience set in 1880s Taranaki.
In the heart of Taranaki, three young girls are about to experience a day that will change their world forever. It’s the 1880s, and the Land Wars have supposedly ended. A peace feast with Pākehā soldiers promises a new era of harmony. But what begins as a hopeful gathering soon reveals the deep wounds of colonisation—and only Wai, Mihi, and Ngaru will survive to carry the weight of their people's legacy.
The making of Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki was a collaboration of dedication and passion. A graduate, tuakana, coordinator and facilitator of Māoriland Tech Creative Hub (M.A.T.C.H), Rautini knew that her first project as a storyteller had to be this. “It’s been passed down through the wāhine in my whānau to me. It’s always felt like my responsibility to put it out there. My mum is a fantastic storyteller, and she has really supported and pushed me to share this story. It kinda feels otherworldly,” says Rautini, who co-wrote the series with her mother, Paula Conroy. Script advisor Andrea Kahukiwa also provided guidance, and the series was animated in Ōtaki by a team of rangatahi, many of whom were working on their first major project.
With the guidance of Māoriland Kaitiaki Pūkōrero Libby Hakaraia and Kaitiaki Tainui Stephens, Rautini and her team spent years meticulously crafting this project. “The story had its own timeline,” Rautini reflects. “It’s taken a lot longer than we first imagined, but that’s because it’s not just a project. It’s a piece of our history. At every step of the way, we have had the support and backing of Māoriland, Whakaata Māori and Te Māngai Pāho.”
Available in 10 short episodes ranging from 5 to 12 minutes each, with English subtitles, Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki invites viewers of all ages to witness a powerful Māori story. The premiere marks not just the release of a new series, but the continuation of a story that has been carried by generations of Māori women. It is a celebration of survival, resilience, and the enduring power of Indigenous storytelling.
Check out this beautiful story here on Whakaata Māori +