default-output-block.skip-main
National | Christchurch

12-year-old Māori film-maker up for prestigious award

At just 12 years old, Tomairangi Harvey of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tūhoe has been nominated for an award at the Japan Wildlife Film Festival for her 5 minute film named 'Te Ao o te Tuturuatu'.

Narrated in te reo Māori, Tomairangi's film tells the story of the Tuturuatu (Shore Dotterel) and it's survival in Aotearoa.

The film is among the 48 films from 1853 international entries for the festival. Her film sits alongside those created by well-known international broadcasters such as the BBC, NHK and ZDF.

At the Outlook for Someday Film Challenge awards last year in December, Tomairangi won the Te Puni Kōkiri Whakatipuranga Award for a film with a Māori perspective on sustainability.

Her love for conservation and wildlife lead to her creating her first ever film, shot with a hand-held camera and ipad.

To celebrate Youth Week this week, DOC, along with Nicky Wagner MP, Association Minister for Conservation will tonight present Tomairangi with a young tōtara plus a financial contribution towards her attendance at the Japan Wildlife Film Festival in August.

Her whānau has set up a Givealittle page where people can donate and contribute to her trip of a lifetime.

Tomairangi is the youngest film-maker ever to be nominated at the JWFF.