He Wawata Whaea: The Dream of an Elder
He Wawata Whaea: The Dream of an Elder
New Zealand 2009 / 60min. / Maori with English subtitles.
Director/Producer Shirley Horrocks.
Director Shirley Horrocks pays tribute to 87 year old Merimeri Penfold, a remarkable Maori woman pioneer who defended the language and culture of New Zealand’s indigenous people. A champion of Te Reo (the Maori language), a leader in her community and nationally, a composer of songs and poems, she was the first teacher of spoken Maori.
Known as a generous, creative influence in many areas of the arts like weaving, creating haka and waiata (songs) and writing fiction, she even translated Shakespeare’s love sonnets into Maori. Witi Ihimaera remarks: “Shakespeare has always been one of those colonising tropes brought here to New Zealand along with the Bible. But through Merimeri’s translations I began to see that we can put the moko [tattoo] of the Maori on to Shakespeare!”
The life of this lively, engaging woman provides a rich perspective on the history of the Maori people in New Zealand over the last century. As she re-visits communities where she lived and worked, Merimeri discusses her dreams for the future of Maori language and culture.
Appropriately for a champion of the language, Merimeri is profiled in a documentary primarily in the Maori language but subtitled in English.
Documentary Edge Festival 2010 | New Zealand Competition Finalist
World Premiere
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The Documentary New Zealand TrustThe Documentary New Zealand Trust
Is a non-for-profit charitable organization that advocates and promotes the importance of documentary films and filmmaking in New Zealand to our creative, business and wider communities. The Trust organizes the Documentary Edge Festival and Documentary Edge Forum and Pitching Forum.
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In the Gallery
Submitted19 Jan 2009InWhats On and Reviews
