Marae Stays At Maori Film Festival

THE ORGANISERS of the inaugural Wairoa Maori Film Festival are proud to announce today that a Marae stay accommodation option will be provided for the weekend of the film festival. "We are working with the esteemed Takitimu Marae in Wairoa, and will be offering an accommodation, food and film viewing pass for $45 a day," said Festival Director Leo Koziol.

For $45 a day, festival attendees will be able to attend all non-cinema screenings, which during the festival will include consecutive screenings at two community venues, including the Takitimu Marae itself on Sunday and Monday. "These screenings include a broad range of documentary showcases, including classics such as Patu! and Kahungunu, and new documentaries such as Kaikohe Demolition," said Leo Koziol. "On the Sunday and Monday, the screenings will be in the whare nui of the marae itself, including a range of archival films, some with live piano accompaniment."

Contact person for Marae Stay accommodation bookings is Tania at the film festival office, ph. 06-838-7717, or 06-838-7716. The film festival programme is now available online for public viewing, at: http://www.manawairoa.com/

As well as the Marae stay option, there are of course a range of other accommodation options still available in Wairoa, though space is filling fast! These include: Three Oaks Motel (06-838-8204), Wairoa Riverside Motorcamp (includes units, 06-838-6301), Clyde Hotel backpackers (06-838-7139) and Ferry Hotel (06-838-8229). Thirty minutes drive from Wairoa are acommodation options at Morere Hot Springs (Morere Tearooms & Camping Ground 06-837-8792) and Mahia (Mahia Motels 06-837-5830; Tunanui Cottages 06-837-5790).

There are three main themes to the Wairoa Maori Film Festival:

(1) Te Ao Mai Nga Whatu Maori, or 'The World Through A Maori Lens', which comprises a broad showcase of Maori dramatic feature and short film works;

(2) International Indigenous Selection, whichincludes three showcases of works from North America and around the world, specially presented in partnership with the National Geographic All Roads Film Project.

(3) Documentary Showcase, including premieres of documentaries by Robert Pouwhare, including 'Tuhoe' and 'Te Toa Aniwaniwa', a documentary about Oscar Temaru's recent rise to presidency in Tahiti.

Ticket sales can be made now from any Ticketek office nationally.

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