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Scoop
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Mana Moana, Mana Tangata — The Untold Story Of Aotearoa's Landmark Fisheries Battle
A feature length documentary tells the story of how Māori fought to reclaim their fishing rights in an epic battle that changed the course of history and ensured Māori participation in the nation's fisheries resources for generations to come. Co-produced by Tawera Films' Toby Mills and Julian Arahanga of Awa Films, MANA MOANA, MANA TANGATA premieres at 8.30PM on Monday 18 August on Whakaata Māori and MĀORI+. From the 1980s, when the Crown's Quota Management System threatened to exclude Māori from their ancestral fisheries to the landmark 1992 Sealord Settlement, the first ever pan-iwi Treaty settlement, MANA MOANA, MANA TANGATA is a powerful account of resilience, legal brilliance, and cultural tenacity. Signed on 23 September 1992, the Sealord Deed of Settlement was a pivotal moment in Aotearoa's Treaty history: a victory that cemented Māori interests in the fishing industry. The documentary captures the high-stakes legal and political battles that raged for over a decade, pitting iwi against iwi and forcing the nation to reckon with issues such as customary title, the rights of urban Māori, and tino rangatiratanga (self-determination). The title MANA MOANA, MANA TANGATA references the eventual fisheries settlement allocation model based on iwi coastline (inshore fisheries) and iwi population (blue water). Featuring the voices of those who fought the fight, including Tā Tipene O'Regan (Ngāi Tahu), who called it 'a war fought with pens,' and Shane Jones (Te Aupōuri), who called the settlement 'our net to reclaim the future' – MANA MOANA MANA TANGATA features interviews with those involved at all levels of the settlement – politicians, iwi leaders, industry leaders and whānau fishers. With key themes of indigenous sovereignty, economic empowerment, environmental stewardship, and the intergenerational legacy of Treaty settlements, the film is a story that resonates with indigenous peoples around the world. Thirty years on, the legacy of the fisheries settlement is an ongoing assertion of Māori resistance, passion, and ambition to secure a sustainable future. As the film closes, it looks ahead – to collective opportunities, and the challenges that still lie beyond the horizon. About MĀORI+: MĀORI+ is the digital gateway to te ao Māori – a free streaming app that brings together the best in Māori storytelling, language, news, haka and entertainment. Designed with whānau in mind, the platform is easy to navigate, available across devices, and constantly updated with fresh content. Download the app from Google Play or the Apple store. Watch online at About Whakaata Māori: Whakaata Māori is Aotearoa New Zealand's national indigenous media organisation, dedicated to revitalising and empowering te reo Māori, culture, and identity through storytelling. Guided by the vision, kia mauriora te reo - a future where te reo Māori is spoken everywhere, every day - Whakaata Māori fosters an environment where the language and its cultural heritage can thrive. Established in 2004, Whakaata Māori has delivered some of Aotearoa New Zealand's most cherished content, connecting audiences with stories that celebrate and uplift te reo Māori and Māori culture. Māori Television trades under its reo Māori name to better reflect the role it plays in revitalising te reo Māori, our culture, and sharing our stories across multiple platforms. Whakaata means 'to mirror', 'to reflect' or 'to display.'
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Doc Edge Unveils Full Programme For Landmark 20th Anniversary Festival
Press Release – Doc Edge Festival The countdown has begun! The 20th Anniversary Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival has officially launched its 2025 programme, now live and on sale at This milestone edition features an unmissable and genre-defying line-up of 49 feature films, 29 short films, and 12 immersive projects that expose, educate, and entertain. Spanning urgent global issues to powerful local voices, the festival runs from 25 June to 24 August, bringing thought-provoking, inspiring stories to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and nationwide via the Virtual Cinema. This year's festival boasts 32 world premieres and 20 international premieres, tackling themes of community, resilience, and the universal power of human connection. These films are bold, raw, and resonant—reflecting the festival's 20-year legacy of fearless storytelling. Joining the already announced premiere films are these standout titles: MANA MOANA MANA TANGATA Dirs. Toby Mills, Julian Arahanga | New Zealand | 90 mins | 2025 | World Premiere In this compelling film, the battle to save Māori fishing rights unfolds as a powerful tale of resilience and determination. NO TEARS ON THE FIELD Dir. Lisa Burd | New Zealand | 2025 | 90 min | World Premiere Set in Taranaki, the film follows four young women chasing big rugby dreams, capturing the grit, heart, and camaraderie of grassroots women's sport. THREE DAYS IN FEBRUARY Dir. Serena Stevenson | New Zealand | 74 min | 2025 | World Premiere Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Splore festival, this is a cinematic celebration of human connection through an intimate and often playful lens. A QUIET LOVE Dir. Garry Keane | Ireland | 2025 | 95 min | World Premiere Three Deaf couples share the stories of how they met and fell in love. Together, these cinematic love letters weave a rich tapestry of Deaf experience over a period of 70 years. FATAL WATCH Dirs. Mark Benjamin, Katie Carpenter | USA | 2025 | 88 min | International Premiere The film set on the high seas exposes the largely unseen world of fisheries observers, whose warnings about illegal fishing practices have resulted in fatal consequences for those sounding the alarm. IN WAVES AND WAR Dirs. Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen | USA | 2024 | 108 min | International Premiere Three Navy SEALs find themselves at the cutting-edge of a different frontline: a lifesaving psychedelic therapy that brings healing to a community in urgent need. THE POOL Dir. Ian Darling | Australia | 2024 | 95 min | International Premiere A spectacular cinematic portrait of the iconic Bondi Icebergs – the pool and the people who cherish it. THE LAST DIVE Dir. Cody Sheehy | USA | 2025 | 88 min | International Premiere A man with a troubled past finds an unlikely friendship with a manta ray, forming a quiet, redemptive bond in the depths of the ocean. NEVER GET BUSTED! Dirs. David Anthony Ngo, Stephen McCallum | USA, Australia, Philippines | 2025 | 105 min | International Premiere He was a highly decorated Texas narcotics officer until he turned on the police force by busting crooked cops and teaching drug users how to hide their stash. THE PROMISE Dir. Daan Veldhuizen | Netherlands | 2025 | 115 min | International Premiere A forgotten promise by the Netherlands for the independence of the Indigenous people of West Papua, has turned into the world's most neglected genocide. VIVIEN'S WILD RIDE Dir. Vivien Hillgrove | USA | 2025 | 87 min | International Premiere After a lifelong career in cinema, editor Vivien Hillgrove starts losing her sight, forcing her to reexamine past traumas and relationships, and to reinvent herself and her art. NUMAKAGE PUBLIC POOL Dir. Shingo Ota | Japan | 2025 | 84 min | International Premiere After more than 50 years, a community grieves the loss of its beloved swimming pool as it faces demolition to make way for urban development. Join Doc Edge in celebrating two decades of life unscripted. Book your tickets now and discover the power of documentary to inspire, challenge, and change the world. Full programme and tickets available at 2025 KEY FESTIVAL DATES & VENUES Industry: 30 June – 3 July, Grand Millennium Auckland Auckland: 25 June – 13 July, Bridgeway Cinema, The Capitol Cinema, SkyCity Theatre and Silo 6 Wellington: 16 – 27 July, The Roxy Cinema Christchurch: 16 – 27 July, Lumiere Cinemas, Christchurch Art Gallery, Tūranga Central Library, and the University of Canterbury Awards: 3 July, Grand Millennium Auckland Nationwide: 28 July – 24 August, The Virtual Cinema
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Doc Edge Unveils Full Programme For Landmark 20th Anniversary Festival
Press Release – Doc Edge Festival This years festival boasts 32 world premieres and 20 international premieres, tackling themes of community, resilience, and the universal power of human connection. These films are bold, raw, and resonantreflecting the festivals 20-year legacy … The countdown has begun! The 20th Anniversary Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival has officially launched its 2025 programme, now live and on sale at This milestone edition features an unmissable and genre-defying line-up of 49 feature films, 29 short films, and 12 immersive projects that expose, educate, and entertain. Spanning urgent global issues to powerful local voices, the festival runs from 25 June to 24 August, bringing thought-provoking, inspiring stories to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and nationwide via the Virtual Cinema. This year's festival boasts 32 world premieres and 20 international premieres, tackling themes of community, resilience, and the universal power of human connection. These films are bold, raw, and resonant—reflecting the festival's 20-year legacy of fearless storytelling. Joining the already announced premiere films are these standout titles: MANA MOANA MANA TANGATA Dirs. Toby Mills, Julian Arahanga | New Zealand | 90 mins | 2025 | World Premiere In this compelling film, the battle to save Māori fishing rights unfolds as a powerful tale of resilience and determination. NO TEARS ON THE FIELD Dir. Lisa Burd | New Zealand | 2025 | 90 min | World Premiere Set in Taranaki, the film follows four young women chasing big rugby dreams, capturing the grit, heart, and camaraderie of grassroots women's sport. THREE DAYS IN FEBRUARY Dir. Serena Stevenson | New Zealand | 74 min | 2025 | World Premiere Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Splore festival, this is a cinematic celebration of human connection through an intimate and often playful lens. A QUIET LOVE Dir. Garry Keane | Ireland | 2025 | 95 min | World Premiere Three Deaf couples share the stories of how they met and fell in love. Together, these cinematic love letters weave a rich tapestry of Deaf experience over a period of 70 years. FATAL WATCH Dirs. Mark Benjamin, Katie Carpenter | USA | 2025 | 88 min | International Premiere The film set on the high seas exposes the largely unseen world of fisheries observers, whose warnings about illegal fishing practices have resulted in fatal consequences for those sounding the alarm. IN WAVES AND WAR Dirs. Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen | USA | 2024 | 108 min | International Premiere Three Navy SEALs find themselves at the cutting-edge of a different frontline: a lifesaving psychedelic therapy that brings healing to a community in urgent need. THE POOL Dir. Ian Darling | Australia | 2024 | 95 min | International Premiere A spectacular cinematic portrait of the iconic Bondi Icebergs – the pool and the people who cherish it. THE LAST DIVE Dir. Cody Sheehy | USA | 2025 | 88 min | International Premiere A man with a troubled past finds an unlikely friendship with a manta ray, forming a quiet, redemptive bond in the depths of the ocean. NEVER GET BUSTED! Dirs. David Anthony Ngo, Stephen McCallum | USA, Australia, Philippines | 2025 | 105 min | International Premiere He was a highly decorated Texas narcotics officer until he turned on the police force by busting crooked cops and teaching drug users how to hide their stash. THE PROMISE Dir. Daan Veldhuizen | Netherlands | 2025 | 115 min | International Premiere A forgotten promise by the Netherlands for the independence of the Indigenous people of West Papua, has turned into the world's most neglected genocide. VIVIEN'S WILD RIDE Dir. Vivien Hillgrove | USA | 2025 | 87 min | International Premiere After a lifelong career in cinema, editor Vivien Hillgrove starts losing her sight, forcing her to reexamine past traumas and relationships, and to reinvent herself and her art. NUMAKAGE PUBLIC POOL Dir. Shingo Ota | Japan | 2025 | 84 min | International Premiere After more than 50 years, a community grieves the loss of its beloved swimming pool as it faces demolition to make way for urban development. Join Doc Edge in celebrating two decades of life unscripted. Book your tickets now and discover the power of documentary to inspire, challenge, and change the world. Full programme and tickets available at
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Doc Edge Unveils Full Programme For Landmark 20th Anniversary Festival
The countdown has begun! The 20th Anniversary Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival has officially launched its 2025 programme, now live and on sale at This milestone edition features an unmissable and genre-defying line-up of 49 feature films, 29 short films, and 12 immersive projects that expose, educate, and entertain. Spanning urgent global issues to powerful local voices, the festival runs from 25 June to 24 August, bringing thought-provoking, inspiring stories to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and nationwide via the Virtual Cinema. This year's festival boasts 32 world premieres and 20 international premieres, tackling themes of community, resilience, and the universal power of human connection. These films are bold, raw, and resonant—reflecting the festival's 20-year legacy of fearless storytelling. Joining the already announced premiere films are these standout titles: MANA MOANA MANA TANGATA Dirs. Toby Mills, Julian Arahanga | New Zealand | 90 mins | 2025 | World Premiere In this compelling film, the battle to save Māori fishing rights unfolds as a powerful tale of resilience and determination. NO TEARS ON THE FIELD Dir. Lisa Burd | New Zealand | 2025 | 90 min | World Premiere Set in Taranaki, the film follows four young women chasing big rugby dreams, capturing the grit, heart, and camaraderie of grassroots women's sport. THREE DAYS IN FEBRUARY Dir. Serena Stevenson | New Zealand | 74 min | 2025 | World Premiere Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Splore festival, this is a cinematic celebration of human connection through an intimate and often playful lens. A QUIET LOVE Dir. Garry Keane | Ireland | 2025 | 95 min | World Premiere Three Deaf couples share the stories of how they met and fell in love. Together, these cinematic love letters weave a rich tapestry of Deaf experience over a period of 70 years.
