Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Taika Waititi's Oscar Win Positive But More Indigenous Storytellers Needed - Māori Director
The movie industry needs more indigenous storytellers following Taika Waititi's Oscar win, according to Māori film director Libby Hakaraia.
Waititi won Best Adapted Screenplay for his movie Jojo Rabbit at the Academy Awards in Hollywood on Monday.
Accepting the award, Waititi, who had earlier acknowledged the traditional owners of the land Hollywood sits on, dedicated his win to indigenous children wanting to make it in the world of arts.
Hakaraia told Morning Report that Waititi's win was a ceiling-breaking moment for indigenous storytellers everywhere.
"To be able to stand on that massive stage in an industry that we have been shut out of for so many years and continue to sort of find it difficult to get in to - the Hollywood machine - Taika had a moment and I'm so proud he was able to take that moment and put out such a positive message for those emerging voices."
Click a link to play audio (or right-click to
download) in either
MP3 format.
Hakaraia said having indigenous creators in the movie industry is vital to society as a whole.
"With the conversation around diversity also comes a much larger conversation about the original story tellers - the people whose stories haven't really been seen amongst the plethora of films that have been made now.
"We've certainly seen that in Aotearoa New Zealand, I think the conversation has changed in Aotearoa New Zealand in the last few years in terms of more people talking and wanting to take up learning te reo Māori for example... we're having grown up conversations about the story of our country, the real story of our country, whether it's pre European or European arrival and I think that's healthy."
Hakaraia said audiences agree with her that more diversity is needed within the movie industry, but challenges still remain for indigenous women in particular, both in New Zealand and globally.
"[Women] still have to punch through, we haven't had a Māori woman in this country direct a feature film.
"We have a feature film coming through at the moment - Cousins - it is the first time that two female Māori directors are at the helm, this is terrible, this can't continue, so these are the power structures we're battling against."
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
Binoy Kampmark: Ruthless Settlements - BHP, Brazil And The Samarco Fundão Dam Class Action
Gordon Campbell: On America’s Fear Of Foreigners
Binoy Kampmark: South Africa’s Memorial To The ICJ - More Evidence On Israel’s Genocide
Ian Powell: ‘If You Don’t Have Hope, You Can’t Have A Strategy’
Martin LeFevre - Meditations: Religious Experiencing Without Religion
Gordon Campbell: On Why So Many Young Males Like Donald Trump