“Toi tū te kupu, toi tū te mana, toi tū te whenua e!” Tinirau

A producer and director of theatre, television and film, Whetū Fala (Ngā Rauru Kītahi, Te Ati Haunui-a-Paparangi, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Maru ki Taranaki, Samoa, Rotuma) lives and works in her tribal home city of Whanganui. She says, “Thanks to whanau and friends we were able to create parts of the film on our whenua. Our kaumatua here and in Taki Rua showed us that anything is possible.” In 2019 she was awarded the Mana Wahine tohu by Women in Film and Television NZ and Wairoa Māori Film Festival in recognition of her work promoting Māori culture, te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and the welfare and stories of wāhine.

Whetū Fala will present Taki Rua Theatre - Breaking Barriers in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, and New Plymouth.