MEDIA RELEASE
Mt Zion Draws A Crowd
The New Zealand Film Commission congratulates Mt Zion on an opening day at the Box Office of $200,707.
The numbers put Mt Zion near the top of the all-time list for the opening day of a New Zealand film.
“I applaud the whole team behind Mt Zion,” says New Zealand Film Commission Chief Executive Graeme Mason. “From writer/director Tearapa Kahi, producer Quinton
Hita and executive producer Christina Milligan to every member of the cast, crew, production, post-production and
distribution team – this is a brilliant recognition of their talent and hard work.”
Mt Zion is a family-oriented story in which Stan Walker’s character Turei and his family are hard-working potato farm
contractors in rural Pukekohe. A talented musician, Turei dreams of his band, Small Axe, being the support act for Bob
Marley’s 1979 tour. But it’s a dream that challenges the traditions and values of his upbringing and sets him at odds
with his family - particularly his father, a true man of the land.
The film also stars Temuera Morrison, Miriama Smith, Troy Kingi, David Wikaira-Paul and Darcey-Ray Flavell-Hudson.
Mt Zion is a A Small Axe Films production made in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ On Air, Māori Television
and Te Māngai Pāho and is distributed in New Zealand by Sony Pictures.
ENDS