ANCIENT SPIRITS BECKON…
WAIROA MĀORI FILM FESTIVAL 2026
WAIROA MĀORI FILM FESTIVAL: NŪHAKA & WAIROA
MAY 29 TO 31 - KING’S BIRTHDAY WEEKEND, EAST COAST, AOTEAROA
KAHUNGUNU MARAE, NUHAKA - GAIETY THEATRE, WAIROA
WAIROA MĀORI FILM FESTIVAL: NŪHAKA & WAIROA
MAY 29 TO 31 - KING’S BIRTHDAY WEEKEND, EAST COAST, AOTEAROA
KAHUNGUNU MARAE, NŪHAKA; GAIETY THEATRE, WAIROA
Buy Tickets NOW at EVENTFINDA
A festival of Māori, Pasifika and Indigenous moving image art works.
Ancient Spirits Beckon. To a gathering. To a convergence.
Nau Mai! Nau Mai! Haere Mai!
Fifty short films, five features, one film symposium, one art gallery, all over two packed days.
All films are Aotearoa NZ except where noted. All filmmakers are Māori except where noted.
Presented by Wairoa Māori Film Festival, Nūhaka Film & Kahungunu Community Marae Trust.
Festival Programme:
Thursday 28 May 2026: Kahungunu Marae, Nuhaka
8 pm Special Preview: SHAKA A STORY OF ALOHA
Embark on a global quest to unravel the mystery of the Shaka gesture. Discover why it ignites pride in train-jumpers, surfers and everyday adventurers alike
Friday 29 May 2026: Kahungunu Marae, Nūhaka
9 am Official Powhiri
10 am to 3 pm Kahungunu Screen Hui
3 pm Cheese & Kamokamo Pickle
4 pm Around the World Shorts
Includes Mahia weavers documentary and special guest artist Teokotai Paitai
5.30 pm Dinner Butter Chicken
6 pm Mana Whenua Shorts
8 pm FEATURE: KŌKĀ
Special Guest Kath Akuhata-Brown
Under the celestial guidance of Matariki, Māori elder Hamo and local delinquent Jo form an unlikely bond on a road trip
Saturday 30 May 2026: Kahungunu Marae, Nūhaka
10 am #Skoden (documentary)
Damien Eagle Bear explores the human story behind a viral internet meme about an Indigenous man putting his dukes up.
12 pm Meditations on Identity Shorts
1.30 pm A Cree Approach (doc)
A Cree Approach follows Tristin Greyeyes as she unravels the story of her late grandmother, Cree educator Freda Ahenakew.
3 pm Wairua Shorts
Saturday 30 May 2026: Gaiety Theatre, Wairoa
10 am Pacific Shorts
11.30 am Toi Whenua Shorts
1 pm Taiarahia - Te Kākahu Tawhito
Taiarahia: Te Kākahu Tawhito is an award-winning documentary by filmmaker Nicholas Te Hiko O Te Rangi Riini. It tells the story of the Te Māhurehure hapū and their historic six-month occupation of their sacred maunga (mountain) in Ruatoki, successfully protecting it from pine tree logging.
4 pm Takatāpui Shorts
“A Night At The Māori Movies” - Gala Event
6 pm Whānau Shorts
7.30 pm Native Noir Shorts
9.30 pm FEATURE: MĀRAMA
The debut feature of London-based Kiwi Taratoa Stappard, Mārama wrestles with themes of colonisation, Māori oppression and the spiritual realm.
Sunday 31 May 2026: Kahungunu Marae, Nūhaka
9 am Poroporoaki
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Thank you to our funders & supporters:
SUPPORTERS & SPONSORS: Mahutonga, Lottery Grants Board, Tatau Tatau O Te Wairoa, Otoki Orchard, Intrepid Tours.
Presented by Wairoa Māori Film Festival, Nūhaka Film & Kahungunu Marae. Event Partners: Adara & Glorious.
A Greater Mahia Event.
TICKET SALES VIA EVENTFINDA (COMING SOON)
KAHUNGUNU FILM HUI $20 per ticket, pre-bookings to kahungunumarae@gmail.com
MOVIES AT THE MARAE at Kahungunu Marae are Free Entry / Koha Donation to Marae
ALL TICKETS GAIETY THEATRE $5 per person / $10 for full day pass. A NIGHT AT THE MĀORI MOVIES $25 pp.
FESTIVAL PASS $50 per person - pre-bookings to kahungunumarae@gmail.com or Ph. 021 434 123.