Mauri Moana

Help us to bring our documentary, Mauri Moana, to life!

About Our Kaupapa:

On the serene shores of Aotea, Great Barrier Island, a looming ecological crisis threatens the very essence of the island's marine life and the age-old practices of its inhabitants. Caulerpa brachypus, an invasive aquatic algae, is on the brink of annihilating the delicate marine equilibrium.

This documentary captures the synergy of mātauranga Māori (traditional indigenous knowledge) with contemporary scientific research in a battle against the invasion, highlighting the pivotal role of this partnership in global ecological conservation.

A testament to resilience and hope, Mauri Moana will illustrate the strength of human and natural communities to persevere and flourish in the face of daunting challenges, celebrating the unbreakable connection between people and the earth.

About the Director:

“Aotea moutere rongonui, Aotea whakahirahira, Aotea utanganui, Aotea taonga maha”

Nathaniel Howe is a multi-talented creative producer and filmmaker based in Tāmaki Makaurau, with whakapapa to Ngāti Rehua ki Aotea. With a passion for creativity and storytelling, Nathaniel has spent the last 10 years working as a presenter, video journalist, reporter, director, producer, and is now the founder and managing director of Mauri Media.

Over the last year Nathaniel has dedicated his time to documenting critical information about Aotea, including the stories of his people, whenua, and moana. In wānanga with the haukainga (mana whenua living on Aotea), he has learnt about the devastating impact of Caulerpa on the marine eco-system and the way of life for the people of Aotea. With a deep commitment to kaitiakitanga and the responsibility to care for our taiao, Nathaniel feels it is his duty to utilise his skills and resources to shine a light on this toxic and invasive species that is threatening our moana, thus inspiring the creation of Mauri Moana.

How You Would Be Supporting Us:

As most of us know, creating anything takes time and resource. This project is no different, and making this documentary will be no small feat. Logistically there are many factors to consider including travelling, transporting equipment, and filming on Aotea with limited access to resources. Due to nature of this documentary, we must film on land and beneath the ocean, which requires a large amount of effort and resource.

This year we are fortunate to be a part of the Loading Docs programme, which supports us in the creation of our documentary. However, we still need your support! As part of the Loading Docs initiative, we need to raise a minimum of $5,000 through Boosted. Once we reach our minimum target, it will unlock additional 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. Your donations will help us to cover the costs of travel, filming, and looking after our crew and guests while shooting.

We are dedicated to producing this film, which we hope will not only capture the stories of hope in the face of devastation, but that it will also inspire conservational action and collaboration for the betterment of our taiao.

All donations to Boosted qualify for a 33% tax credit. To claim a tax credit, donors need a receipt. To send you a receipt we need your email address.

Loading Docs is funded by NZ On Air with support from the New Zealand Film Commission and Te Māngai Pāho.

Ngā mihi nui i tō tautoko mai