Tonight Te Kāea broadcasts live from the New Zealand premiere of Mahana directed by internationally acclaimed Lee Tamahori.
It’s been 20 years since Tamahori last directed a New Zealand film and Mahana has drawn him back to New Zealand.
The film itself is based on Witi Ihimaera’s book, The Patriarch which focuses on two Māori sheep shearing families, the Mahanas and the Poatas in the 1960’s.
The film also features well-known actors Temuera Morrison and Nancy Brunning.
Akuhata Keefe makes his feature film debut appearance as the main character in the film 14 year old Simeon Mahana.
Wepiha Te Kanawa is live from the red carpet and speaks exclusively to Witi Ihimaera, Lee Tamahori and Temuera Morrison tonight about their journey.
We also have an up close and personal one on one interview with Akuhata Keefe about his role and how it felt to play a lead character in a major New Zealand Feature film.