What can I mātakitaki during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori?

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, check out our list of films – new and old, and for a range of ages – that offer a fantastic opportunity to engage with and appreciate one of Aotearoa's treasured languages.

These films not only highlight the richness of te reo Māori but also serve as great conversation starters with your whānau. We’ve provided details below, including links to our content breakdowns with content warnings and age ratings both in English and te reo Māori.

In this list we’ve got:

• Five films to watch during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2024
• Five whānau-friendly Disney films that have been adapted into te reo Māori by Matewa Media
• A recap of our suggested films for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2023

The Mountain (2024)

PG | Parental guidance is recommended for younger viewers

• Directed by Rachel House
• English and te Reo Māori
• Runtime 89 minutes
• Filmed in Taranaki, New Zealand

The Mountain follows the journey of three newly connected tamariki. Eleven-year-old Sam believes wholeheartedly that her maunga, Mt Taranaki, will cure her illness and connect her to the whakapapa she longs for. She meets two accomplices along the way. Together, this perfectly imperfect trio experience the kind of friendship that changes your life forever.

• The Mountain content breakdown (Māori)
• The Mountain content breakdown (English)

Whale Rider (2003)

PG | Parental guidance is recommended for younger viewers 

• Directed by Niki Caro
• Stars Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis
• English and te reo Māori
• Runtime: 101 minutes
• Based on the novel The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera

A young Māori girl named Paikea embarks on a journey to convince her grandfather that she is the rightful heir to lead their tribe, against his belief that the role is for men only.

• Whale Rider content breakdown (Māori)
• Whale Rider content breakdown (English)

Waru (2017)

M | Violence, offensive language, sex scenes & content that may disturb 

• The film features eight short stories centring around Waru on the day of his tangi, each by a different New Zealand director
• English and te reo Māori
• Runtime: 86 minutes

After the heartbreaking loss of a little boy named Waru, who dies at the hands of his caregiver, a small rural community gathers to mourn and find strength together.

• Waru content breakdown (Māori)
• Waru content breakdown (English)

Ka Whawhai Tonu (2024)

M | Violence, offensive language and content that may disturb 

• Directed by Michael Jonathan
• Starring Temuera Morrison, Miriama Smith, Cliff Curtis
• Te reo language with English subtitles
• Aotearoa’s first feature-length te reo film
• Runtime: 115 minutes

Set in 1864 in Aotearoa New Zealand, Ka Whawhai Tonu tells the story of an important battle during the initial land wars in the Waikato region. It shows the clash between Māori and Colonial forces, where two rangatahi find themselves caught up in the chaos of battle.

The intense retelling of history in this film may be upsetting or confronting for viewers who whakapapa Māori, particularly descendants of those who fought in this land war or one of the many historic land wars between Māori and Colonial forces.

• Ka Whawhai Tonu content breakdown (Māori)
• Ka Whawhai Tonu content breakdown (English)

The Convert (2024)

R13 | Bloody violence & cruelty 

• Directed by Lee Tamahori
• English and te reo Māori
• Runtime: 114 minutes

Munro, a former soldier turned lay preacher, arrives in New Zealand in the 1830s to guide the early British settlers, but his mission takes an unexpected turn when the influential Māori chief Maianui draws him into a new path, reshaping his purpose and loyalty.

• The Convert content breakdown (Māori)
• The Convert content breakdown (English)

If you’re after films for younger whānau members to get amongst – look no further. Since 2017 Disney have been re-releasing some of their beloved animations, adapted into te reo Māori by Matewa Media.

Frozen Reo Māori (2022, original film released in 2013)

G | Suitable for general audiences

• Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee (Frozen II, Surf’s Up)
• English language
• Runtime: 106 minutes
• Starring voice acting by Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad
• Animated film by Disney (Moana, Coco)

Queen Elsa unleashes an eternal winter curse upon her kingdom, forcing her sister Anna to join forces with a rugged mountain man, a reindeer, and a cheerful snowman to save her kingdom.

• Frozen content breakdown (English)

The Lion King Reo Māori (2022, original film released in 1994)

G | Suitable for general audiences 

• Directed by Roger Allers
• Several songs composed and performed by Elton John
• English language
• Runtime: 84 minutes
• Disney original

The Lion King follows Simba, a young lion prince, as he navigates life after the tragic death of his father, King Mufasa. Overcoming exile and betrayal, Simba returns to reclaim his rightful place as king of the Pride Lands.

• The Lion King content breakdown (English)

Encanto Reo Māori (2024, original film released in 2021)

PG | Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers

• Directed by Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith
• Songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda
• English language
• Runtime: 98 minutes
• Disney original

In Encanto, the Madrigal family lives in a magical house where each member has been granted extraordinary powers, except for Mirabel. When their magic begins to falter, Mirabel must uncover the cause and help save her family’s miracle.

• Encanto content breakdown (English)

Coco Reo Māori (2023, original film released in 2017)

PG | Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers

• Te Reo Māori version of Pixar's Oscar-winning family film Coco
• Directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and Adrian Molina
• Runtime: 105 minutes
• Animated film by animation house Pixar (Inside Out, Soul, Luca)

Miguel longs to become a musician, but his family forbids it. After a series of events, he finds himself in the Land of the Dead, where he teams up with Hector to uncover the truth about his family's past.

• Coco content breakdown (Māori)
• Coco content breakdown (English)

Moana Reo Māori (2017, original film released in 2016)

PG | Some scenes may scare very young children 

• Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker and Don Hall (Aladdin, Big Hero 6)
• English language
• Runtime: 107 minutes
• Animated film by Disney (Frozen, The Lion King)

When a terrible curse reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod Maui to set things right and save her people.

• Moana content breakdown (English)

If you’ve already seen these films or are looking to expand your watchlist further, check out the list of films in our blog from Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2023.

Whina (2022)

PG | Offensive language

• Directed by James Napier Robertson and Paula Whetu Jones
• Māori and English languages
• ~112 minutes

Whina follows the journey of Dame whina Cooper. Dame Whina broke gender boundaries and worked hard fighting for Māori rights, particularly for Māori wāhine. Guided by the impact of inequality and justice, she became an inspiration and is known as Te Whaea o te Motu – the Mother of the Nation.

• Whina (Māori breakdown)
• Whina (English breakdown)

Cousins (2021)

M | Offensive language

• Directed by Ainsley Gardiner and Briar Grace Smith
• Māori and English languages
• ~94 minutes
• Based on the book Cousins by Patricia Grace

Three cousins, who are bound together by love and hope, are separated for decades all leading very different but hard lives. One of them is taken from her family and sent to an orphanage, which is the start of the significant trauma she experiences throughout her life.

• Cousins (Māori breakdown)
• Cousins (English breakdown)

Muru (2022)

M | Violence and offensive language

• Directed by Tearepa Kahi (Mt. Zion, Poi E: The Story of a Song)
• Māori and English languages
• ~104 minutes
• Inspired by the 2007 Ngāi Tūhoe police raids

When an armed raid is launched on the remote Te Urewera community, local Police Sergeant ‘Taffy’ Tāwharau (Cliff Curtis) must choose between his job or his people.

• Muru (Māori breakdown)
• Muru (English breakdown)

Boy (2010)

M | Drug use, offensive language

• Directed by Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok)
• English language
• ~84 minutes

An 11-year-old boy named Boy finds himself face-to-face with his long-absent father – an opportunity to establish a connection with the man he never really knew.

• Boy (Māori breakdown)
• Boy (English breakdown)

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2024 is the perfect time to explore and celebrate te reo Māori through film. Whether you're watching Whale Rider for the first or 20th time, or enjoying Disney's te reo adaptations like Coco, these films offer a great way to connect with our language and culture. Dive in, enjoy, and let’s keep the spirit of ‘Ake ake ake’ – A Forever Language – alive through every story we watch. Happy viewing!

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau? – Blog
• Te Aka - Māori dictionary
• Reomaori.co.nz - Resource
• Five fabulous New Zealand tales worth revisiting this Māori Language Week – Stuff