ABOUT US

Producer, Director
Te Whānau a Apanui, Rongowhakaata

Tweedie Waititi is a producer and director, driven by a deep desire to push the boundaries and forge new pathways for Te Reo Māori in a wide range of creative spaces. She is happiest when serving her people on her marae in Te Whānau a Pararaki while building towards creating the ultimate iwi environment for the next generation.

Under Matewa Media Tweedie has produced and directed Disney's Lion King Reo Māori, Frozen Reo Māori, Moana Reo Māori and Encanto Reo Māori; and Disney and Pixar’s Coco Reo Māori.

In 2021, Tweedie was awarded an International Emmy in her role as co-producer for the series 'Rūrangi', a ground-breaking transgender drama series set in rural Aotearoa, New Zealand. Tweedie is also producing several projects under her company Kokko Media including ‘Puta Mōhio’ a Māori STEM program and ‘Get Home’ a docuseries about responding to the call home for TVNZ OnDemand. In 2022, Tweedie was awarded the Te Aupounamu, Māori Excellence in Film & Television award for her contribution to Te Reo and the industry.

Producer
Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai te Rangi

Chelsea Winstanley is an Oscar® nominated producer, award-winning filmmaker and industry disruptor. Her producing credits include JOJO RABBIT, Canadian/NZ indigenous co-production NIGHT RAIDERS, critically-acclaimed documentary feature MERATA: HOW MUM DECOLONISED THE SCREEN, and hit mockumentary WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS.

Chelsea’s company with Tweedie Waititi, MATEWA MEDIA, is the first company in the world to reimagine five Disney/Pixar feature films into an indigenous language. As a director and producer Chelsea has several projects in various stages of development and production under her company THIS TOO SHALL PASS, including VISUAL SOVEREIGNTY, a feature documentary about the landmark exhibition TOI TŪ TOI ORA at the Auckland Art Gallery. Chelsea’s new venture AHI aims to disrupt film distribution with a focus on creative-led storytelling, indigenous narratives and fostering up-and-coming filmmakers. Along with a growing circuit of independently owned cinemas Chelsea’s focus to participate in every part of the filmmaking pipeline is being realised.

In 2022 Chelsea became the co-chair of The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi and an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for her services to the screen industry and Māori.

Producer
Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa, Ngati Kuri, Te Rarawa

Mia Mārama is an award-winning producer and filmmaker whose focus on kaupapa māori and unique ability to build relationships continues to make her one of Aotearoa’s most sought-after Māori producers. Her producing credits include series, Baby Mama’s Club and award-winning shorts My Brother Mitchell, Mana Wahine and Daughter of God. Mia’s debut feature, Australian/NZ indigenous co-production, WE ARE STILL HERE premiered on opening night of the 2022 Sydney Film Festival. The film comprises eight stories of resilience against colonisation spanning over 1000 years, by and about First Nations people.

Until 2022, Mia served on the board of Ngā Aho Whakaari (New Zealand’s guild for Māori in Screen Production) for 4 years. Mia was a producer on Disney/Pixar’s Coco Reo Māori and Encanto Reo Māori and is currently releasing The First Horse - the first short film produced by her family-owned production company, 787.

Performance Director
Ngāti Mutunga Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Kāti Huirapa

Rachel has performed in some of Aotearoa’s most successful films, including Whale-rider, Cousin’s, Taika Waititi’s Eagle vs Shark, Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Internationally she has appeared in Disney’s Moana, Thor Ragnorak, Netflixes Stateless, Pixar’s Academy award-winning SOUL as Terry, beloved Aussie film Penguin Bloom and the upcoming The Portable Door produced by Jim Henson’s company. Behind the camera, she has directed the short film The Winter Boy which premiered at the NZ Film Festival in 2011 as well as directing commercials for Auckland Transport and ASB. And her theatre productions of Have Car Will Travel and the reo version of Toroihi raua ko Kāhira/Troilus and Cressida which was performed at the Globe Theatre in London were awarded Director of the Year by Wellington Theatre Critics. Rachel is also an acting coach in NZ films, including The Rehearsal, Dark Horse, Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Golden Globe nominated, Oscar winning Jojo Rabbit. She is the recipient of an Arts Laureate, New Zealand Officer of Merit (NZOM), Matariki performer of the year 2018 and the WIFT Mana Wahine award 2016. For the reversioning of Moana into te reo Māori, Rachel helped oversee the casting and was the performance coach and Director.

Music Director, Waiata Translator

Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāti Wai

Pere Wihongi is a celebrated performer and composer of waiata, as well as a talented actor and kapa haka star. They are a champion of te reo Māori and proud takatāpui representative.

For many, Pere is a familiar face - and voice - as a founding member and co-manager of trailblazing supergroup, Maimoa - who were awarded Best Māori Artist in 2020 at the AMAs. Their single 'Wairua' amassed 11 million views on YouTube. Pere has also received numerous awards for their individual work as an artist, including Māori Male Artist of the Year and Te Reo Track of the Year for ‘Tōrea’ at the 2019 Māori Music Awards.

Pere has collaborated with internationally renowned artists and worked with some of Aotearoa's brightest stars in music as a translator, composer, and singer. Including Dave Dobbyn's hit ‘Welcome Home. They are about to release a new EP in collaboration with internationally renowned artist DeAndre Brackensick. Pere found further spotlight this year as a founding member and head tutor of Te Matatini 2023 sensations, ANGITU.

Since 2022, Pere has been a Musical Co-Director and translator on Disney projects; The Lion King Reo Māori and Frozen Reo Māori - for which they also lent their voice to the beloved snowman Olaf - and Disney/Pixar’s Coco Reo Māori as Co-Musical Director alongside Rob Ruha. In 2023, they served as the lead music director on Encanto Reo Māori.

Music Director, Waiata Translator
Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou,Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tainui, Rongowhakaata, Ngāpuhi, Ngā Ariki-kaipūtahi

In high demand as the most decorated Māori Music export from Aotearoa-New Zealand, Rob Ruha is a boundary-breaking artist. He brings indigenous music into Pop-Culture with sold-out live shows, major commercial radio airplay, charting success and multi-award-winning titles in Aotearoa, NZ. Possessing the rare genius of creating undeniable multi-lingual music with broad international appeal, Rob is a viral sensation with hits like ‘35’ and ‘Taera’ racking up millions of views and streams. Rob attracted recent collaborations with heavy hitters Six60, Drax Project, Toronto-based The Halluci Nation, Hawaiian artist Josh Tatofi.

Among other recent accolades was the Supreme Matariki Award for outstanding contribution to Aotearoa and exemplary achievements in music as well as the illustrious Huia Kaimanawa trophy as a performer for the winning 2023 Te Matatini team Te Whānau a Apanui.

He was the Musical Director for the Disney Reo Māori reversion of Coco , Moana, Frozen and The Lion King. He was the music director for the 2021 and 2022 Silver Scroll Awards and the 50-track album project TM50 celebrating 50 years of Te Matatini.

Waiata Translator
Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Koata, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga

Hana Mereraiha is an accomplished matanga reo, and reo champion. She was a key translator for Waiata Anthems, The Lion King Reo Maori, Frozen Reo Maori and Coco Reo Maori. She has helped numerous artists re-connect to their whakapapa through her mahi. She is one of the country’s top translators and has worked with Lorde, Tim Finn and Melowdownz. She has a master’s degree in education and was a teacher for seven years at a bilingual school in Christchurch.

Producer of Education Content
Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui

Te Rāhui is the Pou Tiaki for Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa. Her role includes communcations, collaboration and marketing for an association of 37 tribally led schools across Aotearoa. She is a former principal and secondary school teacher with a background in broadcasting and media. She is a current MBA candidate at Auckland University. Te Rāhui is a company director of Kokko Media who has several shows currently in production.

For this project, Te Rāhui will craft the educational resources that will accompany each film to ensure our tamariki mokopuna across the country will enjoy the films from and entertainment perspective but also as a key learning resource as well.