Tama and Mahuika

In the wake of loss, a father must learn to hear and see the needs of his rebellious daughter as they embark on a journey of self-discovery through their grief, and the depths of their shared mana, to find healing and strength in each other.

Tama and Mahuika is about bringing to audiences throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and world wide the beauty of  New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) along side Te Reo Māori and English. This project portrays all three offical languages of Aotearoa New Zealand in equal weighing and equal respect. 

This film is partially funded by the New Zealand Film Commission and showcases a community that is underrepresented on screen. 

Tama and Mahuika has had an original waiata written for it bu Dr Kathie Rifle.

Our crowdfunding intention is to cover the Post-Production costs of colour-grading and the creations of the short films dimorphic sound score.  

Co-Directors: Jared Flitcroft and Corey Le Vaillant

Writers: Corey Le Vaillant and Wayne Hotu

Story Concept by: Jared Flitcroft

Producers: Corey Le Vaillant and Fran Le Vaillant

Producer's Assistant: Tim Hackshaw

Executive Producer: Dale Corlett

Māori Consultant: Dr Kathie Rifle 

Cinematographer: Aline Tran

Sound Mixer: Kade Martin

Sound Score: Tom McCloud

Post-Production Sound: Underground Sound

Colour Grading: Luke Ross

Funding for Tama and Mahuika will go towards the Production and Post-Production costs of:

• Colour Grading
  • It is important to make sure that the final edit cut is given the best grade possible.
• Sound Score
  • As this is a story that delves into the world of Turi/Deaf if is important to make sure that the sound score reflects this. To acheive this the score will be dimorphic in order to convey both the Deaf and Hearing worlds.
• Catering
  • A happy film set is a well catered film set,  some of the raised funding will go towards making sure that cast and crew have healthy warm meals thorughout the filming period.

Tama and Mahuika aims to increase representation of Deaf and Māori communities on screen, providing an authentic and meaningful portrayal of their experiences. With Jared Flitcroft, a Māori Deaf filmmaker, at the helm, the film brings an important perspective to the conversation around accessibility, culture, and identity.

Synopsis for Tama and Mahuika:

Tama, recently widowed, and proud Turi father of Mahuika, is confronted by the societal issues of being deaf in a hearing world, with a daughter who feels increasingly isolated and who desperately needs him to hear her. 

The journey begins with Tama and Mahuika enjoying a picnic; it is clear that Tama believes that Mahuika is happy and the pain of losing her mother is fading into the past. While Mahuika plays, Tama is weaving and repairing bone carvings.

After the picnic Tama is confronted by miscommunication, ignorance and elitism as he tries to go to the bank. Confused and fearful, Tama is saved by his daughter’s kind and measured intervention, but the following evening Tama is blindsided by a message from Mahuika’s school principal, requesting an urgent meeting about Mahuika’s behaviour.

At the school Tama is confronted by further ignorance and unconscious disrespect when he meets Mahuika’s school principal. The principal tries to accommodate Tama, but is clearly thinking of other things, and without an interpreter Tama is left feeling disheartened. A commotion in the playground requires the Principal’s attention, further leaving Tama isolated in a chaotic environment. Tama leaves the school unaware that Mahuika is fighting other girls and the breaking of his late wife's pounamu. 

Back at home Tama, accompanied by a counsellor and an interpreter, tries to come to grips with Mahuika’s actions, while confronted with the footage on social media and the consequences that his daughter is now facing.

That night after an argument Mahuika runs away; scared, alone and without the obvious support and love of her father, she runs to the only person that she feels ever listened to her. Tama is oblivious to this as he works to repair the broken pounamu. Once repaired he says a karakia.

In a panic after finding a message in Mahuika’s diary, ’I hate you Dad! Why can’t you hear me?’ Tama searches everywhere in the house and then heads to the nearby shops, the sense of confusion and isolation rapidly overwhelming him. Tama, unable to find his daughter, turns back towards their home, when a street-sign pointing to the local cemetery is briefly lit up by a cars headlights. In a lightbulb moment Tama realises the most obvious place Mahuika would be.

In a forest graveyard Mahuika is curled up at her mother’s grave, crying and begging for her help. Tama, unable to hear but able to sense Mahuika’s need, moves to his daughter, alerting her to someone’s presense. Mahuika rushes to her father, then pulls away to do a waiata. After the waiata they hongi and Tama, aware of his failing but determined to be a better, more aware father, hangs the repaired pounamu around Mahuika’s neck as the sun rises.

This project is important for continuing the growth of diversity and equity in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Filming of Tama and Mahiuka will take place mid-July 2025 with Post-Production happening August - October 2025.

The film delves into key themes such as:

• Deaf and hearing relationships – showcasing the unique dynamics between a Deaf parent and a hearing child.
• Communication barriers – exploring the emotional weight of misunderstandings and the need for connection.
• Bullying and societal pressures – highlighting Mahuika’s struggles with the loss of her mother. 
• Grief and resilience – following Tama and Mahuika as they navigate their loss and find strength in each other.

In 2025, we were awarded a $35,000 grant from the New Zealand Film Commission. However, we quickly realised that bringing this ambitious film to life a film which features multiple languages would require additional support beyond this initial funding. The story has deeply resonated with our cast and crew, and we are confident that, once completed, it will leave a lasting impact on audiences worldwide.

We need your help to bring it to the finish line and help share it with the world.