Opening 8 May 2025
Directed by:
Petr Lom
Writing credits:
Principal actors:
Ned Tapa
The modern Māori canoe the Whanganui River in New Zealand with an outboard motor, but traditional spiritual beliefs and values are still held in their hearts despite the challenges of today’s world. The Māori have their day jobs but return to the river to find their life balance and regain the serenity of a more traditional life on the river. In this documentary film, strikingly tattooed Ned Tapa travels the Whanganui with a small group of friends and family. The journey is relaxed and filled with stories of its history, with emphasis on the fact that the Whanganui River is the first river to be given the legal status of a person which bestows upon it human rights.
As the canoe party travels downstream, sweet dog Jimmy bounds from canoe to canoe, keeping a careful watch. Each traveler talks about their experiences, with the beauty of the forest, mountains, rolling greens and hills as the backdrop. Tapa explains that the Māori have no word for peace because they have always been at peace. Join them on this peaceful journey and learn about ways to protect nature for future generations. (Mary Nyiri)
