Here's something to add to your watchlists. Catch Not Even, a six part comedy drama series co-directed by Ainsley Gardiner (Ngāti Awa, Te Whānau-a Apanui, Ngāti Pikiao and Whakatāhea). The brainchild of Dana Leaming (Ngā Puhi, Te Rarawa), who co-directed with Gardiner, it focuses on a bunch of Māori and Pasifika friends living in the city, navigating modern life.
Gardiner, who also executive-produced the show, has also worked on the feature films Boy, The Breaker Upperers, Cousins and the soon-to-be released Red, White & Brass.
Not Even follows Ma, Heps, Pua, Liz, and Taaps, your average group of twenty-something Māori and Pasifika living in Wellington. Together, this group of friends crash through the city, grappling first with their cultural identities and then with each other - tackling issues such as love, career, mental health and ...life.
Aeroplane Music (Jan Hellreigel) helped with music supervision, licensing songs from local artists such as Church & AP, 1814, Aaradhna, Scribe, EJ, Alya Jade, Coco Solid, 188, Nova T, as well as international acts including Yung Humma, Nite Owl, and Ran Raiten.