Ruarangi

Ruarangi is a supernatural thriller feature film set in England at the turn of the 20th Century. Ruarangi follows the story of a Māori man whose traditional healing abilities are requested to assist a dying English Lord. Although Ruarangi is many miles away from his whenua, he might be closer to home than he knows. 

Written and directed by rangatahi filmmaker Oriwa Hakaraia (17 years), Ruarangi will be Aotearoa’s first rangatahi feature film. 

A celebrated Māori healer, Ruarangi is called across the world to heal an English lord. In the process, Ruarangi discovers that not all wounds can be healed. 

WHY IS THIS STORY IMPORTANT

Ruarangi came to me from my ancestors in a dream. Without giving away any twists or turns - his story offers a glimpse of our shared history - pākehā and Māori - that is rarely represented on screen. Amidst a backdrop of colonial warfare and cultural suppression, Ruarangi is strong in his identity - using his matauranga Māori for good while exploring the world.  

Ruarangi is an epic - it’s stylistically inspired by my favourite films Get Out, The Haunting of Hill House and River Queen and is informed by the knowledge instilled in me by my whānau and kura - Te Kura ā Iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano. 

By making Ruarangi I want to abolish the stereotype that young people can’t take on big projects like this and that young people shouldn’t have to wait till they’re older to tell their stories. The world needs young voices and young stories now. 

I hope that by making Ruarangi I can impact the lives of people throughout the world, and open their eyes to the world of Indigenous storytelling. 

HELP US MAKE RUARANGI

Ruarangi is on its way - we have a beat sheet and script - and now I need to make a proof of concept. A short film I can show to big funders to prove my story and get the pūtea to make Aotearoa’s first rangatahi feature film. 

Through NPIP I already have partial funding from Māoriland and the NZ Film Commission to make this proof of concept - but I need to raise more pūtea to help us make this happen. With your help I’ll be able to hire camera gear and professional crew to support us to bring Ruarangi to life. In the process, our rangatahi will receive mentorship from the pros so that we can upskill and grow our own expertise.

ABOUT ME

Ko Oriwa Hakaraia, tōku ingoa. I am 17 and live in Ōtaki. I have been raised in te ao Māori and attend a full immersion reo Māori kura. Being raised in this environment and that of the Māoriland Film Festival of Indigenous storytelling has been inspiring and empowering for me. I am dedicated to telling our stories our way - this to me is Indigenous empowerment. 

MY TEAM

Ruarangi is part of the Ngā Pakiaka Incubator Project (NPIP). NPIP was developed by Māoriland during Lockdown to support rangatahi filmmakers to produce their first professional short films. The first eight in NPIP are Aree Kapa, Oriwa Hakaraia, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Kararaina Ngatai-Melbourne, Te Waiarangi Ratana, Bailey Poching, Tiana Trego Hall and Te Mahara Tamehana. All eight filmmakers have personal creative goals to become feature filmmakers and share Indigenous stories on the big screen. Under NPIP, this talented rangatahi have received one-on-one mentorship from industry experts from across the Indigenous filmmaking sector, craft development opportunities, workshops, and industry placements. With your help, NPIP will grow Aotearoa's film industry with;

• Eight new short films from rangatahi Māori directors
• 24 rangatahi receiving on set training
• Two rangatahi Producers (Māori & Sāmoan)
• Two reo Māori films
• Pilot for Māori web-series (Manu Masters)
• Proof of concept for rangatahi Māori feature film (Ruarangi)

I’m going to need all the support I can get to make this film! Anything at all would be deeply appreciated. Nāku te rourou, nau te rourou ka ora ai te iwi!