Rurangi

Rūrangi is Groundbreaking. In a first for New Zealand, this fiercely contemporary new drama series is written, produced by and starring transgender talent. 

Join us now as we ramp up for our launch in NZ, and on the world stage, by creating the kind of iconic soundtrack and picture grade that will drop jaws to the floor - and make this history-breaking series impossible to ignore.

The Story 

After skipping town a decade ago, trans activist Caz Davis returns to the rural dairy community of Rūrangi to reconnect with his estranged father, who hasn't heard from Caz since he transitioned. As Caz struggles to reconcile with his roots, he discovers new, life-affirming purpose, spearheading the environmental fight against 'Big Dairy' that's dividing the town.

So. Damn. Close...

All five episodes are now shot and nearing final cut. The result is a bold, queer-as-hell series with a 40% gender-diverse cast that goes toe-to-toe with this country's best dramas. The show launches in Aotearoa in 2020 via NZME.

Impossible?

In this biz, stories that look great and sound great get seen - so we're setting our sites on an iconic soundtrack and world-class colour grade. To achieve this, we must raise a minimum of $20,000.

Your donation will help us collaborate with top music artists on R?rangi's soundtrack - and partner gender diverse talent with major New Zealand talent to re-record hit songs. Kiwi trans artist Randa, and singer/songwriter Shona Laing have already come on board as featured artists. With your help this is just the start of the wave...

A world-class colour grade will give our visuals that HBO-show woah factor. Check out our Boosted video for a demo of what a colour grade does, and how your donation will create cinematic magic.

All Or Nothing

Our Boosted funding is all-or-nothing. All donors will receive a credit in the series - and an invitation to an exclusive gala night with the cast and crew to view work-in-progress scene samples.  All donations qualify for a 33% tax rebate for New Zealand donors. 

The Future Is Now 

Check out the buzz you can be a part of if you decide to join us...

- You'll be building a new kind of star in our leading man, Elz Carrad. Stars create visibility, pride and possibility models. Let's launch this incredible talent from Hokianga - to Hollywood. 

- You'll be lifting up NZ's biggest-ever gender diverse production. Being the first aint easy. That's why we ran a paid creative internship program, funded by the NZ Film Commission, pairing gender diverse crew with HODs. Read more about our pioneering production kaupapa and internship program on the Rūrangi website.

- You'll be supporting better possibility models. Finally! A trans story without showing physical or sexual violence against trans people, and without an obsession with transition - because there's so much more to us than our bodies, and so much more to our lives than violence. All gender diverse characters in Rūrangi are played by gender diverse actors (like, *of course*) and because we called the shots, some cis characters were played by trans actors, too.  If you're gender diverse, or one of our family members, partners, friends, colleagues or allies - you'll get why this is so important.

- You'll be standing up to the leaders of the USA, Russia & Brazil, who are openly declaring war on our gender diverse communities. Here in New Zealand - Rūrangi's declaring love.

- You'll be supporting the power of story telling to be a hope-giving force. The recent Counting Ourselves Trans Health survey statistically confirmed what we already knew: rates of depression, self harm and suicide in NZ's gender diverse community are terrifyingly high. Seeing ourselves on screen, creating and telling our own stories, made by us - is a hope-giving force. It's a life-saving force. Literally.

- You'll be so damn proud of this bold, exciting, beautifully acted story that couldn't come from anywhere else in the world but New Zealand.

Elz Carrad

Rūrangi is Elz's on-screen debut.  Raised in Hokianga, Elz currently manages a small warehouse in central Auckland while studying acting.  Māori, trans and a naturally gifted actor - we believe the charismatic Mr. Carrad is a new kind of star for New Zealand.   

Cole Meyers & The Team

Over 280 people have been involved in the production of Rūrangi. This is too many to name here, but of vital importance to the show is the trans voice of series writer, co-producer and activist Cole Meyers.

   Cole Meyers........................... Series Writer & Co-producer
   Craig Gainsborough............ Lead Producer
   Melissa Nickerson................ Co-Producer
   Max Currie............................. Series Director
   Oliver Page............................ Writer
   Johannes Louis.................... Cinematographer
   Brough Johnson................... Offline Editor
   Dan Kircher........................... Offline Editor

Our Cast

We have 34 named talent and many more supporting talent in Rūrangi. We're especially honoured to feature Kiwi legend Kirk Torrence (The Deadlands, The Dark Horse, Filthy Rich, Outrageous Fortune) alongside Rūrangi's leading man and rising star, Elz Carrad.

   Elz Carrad..................................... as Caz Davis
   Kirk Torrance............................... as Gerald Davis
   Āwhina-Rose Henare Ashby.... as Anahera
   Arlo Green.................................... as Jem
   Ramon Te Wake........................... as Ellie
   Aroha Rawson.............................. as Whina
   Renee Lyons................................. as Mayor Richter
   Renée Sheridan........................... as Agnes
   Sonny Tupu.................................... as Andrew Ainofo

For media enquiries please contact:
Kelly Geater at Elephant Publicity: kelly@elephantpublicity.co.nz

For production enquiries please contact:
Craig Gainsborough at Autonomouse: craig@rurangi.com

DONATE NOW  and join us in making - and breaking - a piece of Kiwi history.