He Ōhākī - Imparting words of wisdom

For tribal people, knowing who you are and where you come from gives life, meaning and purpose. When that’s denied, we are lost.

Ki te kore te tangata e mōhio ko wai ia nō hea ia, ehara noa iho. 

We need your support to tell this important story on Loading Docs’ award-winning short documentary platform.

THE FILM

The youngest daughter of the late John Te Rangiāniwaniwa Rangihau will take you behind the wall of Pūao Te Ata Tū to share her father’s imparting words of wisdom to the young people of Tūhoe.

At night in the wharenui, Kararaina unravels how her father led the team to capture the most damning body of evidence of institutional racism New Zealand has ever seen, the Day Break Report 1988. His vision was a New Zealand society all our future descendants - Māori and Pāhekā - could be proud of.

Tama tū, tama ora 

Tama moe, tama mate 

From deep in the heart of Te Urewera, Kararaina shares the last two years of Koro’s life and his imparting words of wisdom to all his mokopuna.

John Te Rangiāniwaniwa Rangihau helped bring about socio-political change from within the public service. He did this by inspiring and re-educating those in power who could influence change of the system and who could be allies for the revitalisation of te reo Māori.

The film will be told in te reo Māori through a mix of archives, interviews and dramatic recreation.

Join us by donating to this compelling short documentary.

Hokia ki ou maunga ki a pūreia koe e ngā hau o Tāwhirimātea. 

Our fervent hope is to inspire and encourage not only Tūhoe, but all young people, to know who they are and where they come from. For Tūhoe young people, we hope they are inspired to return to their mountains, to a place of belonging, where they can practice their Tūhoetanga, and fulfil their lifelong role of Tūhoe apprentice. 

Ko tōku Tūhoetanga, tōku oranga. 

THE TEAM

Kararaina Rangihau (writer/ director) and Simone Ashton (producer) are coming together to bring this kaupapa to the screen. With decades of combined experience behind them, these wāhine are able to pool their knowledge, connections and absolute belief in the legacy of John Rangihau’s work, to ensure his wisdom is available to inspire future generations of Māori. We are truly humbled to have the expertise of Mike Jonathan as our DOP and Lala Rolls as our editor on He Ōhākī.

THE TARGET

As part of the Loading Docs initiative, we need to raise a minimum of $3,500 through Boosted to help make the film. 

Once we reach our minimum target, it will unlock funding from Loading Docs. But this is an all or nothing campaign. If we don’t reach our target, we get nothing! That’s why we need your help.

Loading Docs is an award-winning short documentary initiative to develop New Zealand filmmaking talent. He Ohākī is supported by Te Māngai Pāho.

Loading Docs is funded by NZ On Air with support from NZFC and Te Māngai Pāho. 

Thank you for your support.

Simone & Kararaina

THE FILMMAKERS

Kararaina Rangihau (director)

Kararaina is an accomplished writer, director and actress and the youngest daughter of John Rangihau. Her creative work is deeply reflective of her dedication to te reo Māori and tikanga revitalisation. Kararaina continues her father’s work, empowering her hapu to be self-governing and self-sustaining, breaking their reliance on the system. Her previous work has been screened both locally and internationally to critical acclaim.

Simone Ashton (producer)

Simone is a producer and production designer across a number of creative disciplines. She has a been fortunate enough to have been mentored by film industry heavy weights Ainsley Gardiner, George Conder and Alex Cole-Baker. Simone’s first short film produced by her own production company Maiden Voyage Pictures, Koro, world premiered at ImagineNATIVE Indigenous Film & Media Festival 2020.