Hei Matariki

I collaborated with Patricia Grace, her granddaughter Miriama Grace-Smith, and the team at Wellington agency Storybox to direct a Matariki story with an authentic community vibe. The final feel-good film, "Hei Matariki," was projected onto the side of Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua, serving as the centerpiece of the council’s Matariki celebrations. Presented in both Māori and English, the story played on a continuous loop throughout the Matariki long weekend.

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Client

Porirua City Council for Storybox

Year

2023

Services

Creative Concept

Film Direction

Copywriting

Working with the community to create a new sort of celebration

Declared a new national public holiday in 2022, Matariki has become an increasingly popular event for all New Zealanders. Porirua City partnered with Storybox to help bring the Porirua community together to celebrate and learn more about the Māori New Year and the stars that guide it.

At its heart, an animated family film, Hei Matariki, was projected onto the side of Te Rauparaha Arena. The film tells the heartwarming and nostalgic story of nine children who have come together to celebrate Matariki in their own unique way. Each child is the namesake of a star in the Matariki constellation.

My approach was to create something very authentic—a celebration by the community for the community. To achieve this, the team worked closely with acclaimed writer Patricia Grace (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, and Te Āti Awa) and her granddaughter Miriama Grace-Smith (Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Toarangatira, and Ngāti Porou). Together, we created the script and illustrations. Local children and the Paekakariki Kapa Haka Group lent their voices to the story, as well as performing an original waiata composed by Himiona Grace and Julia Truscot, who also composed the soundtrack.