Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab Kōrero
The Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab aims to create exceptional feature films for local and international audiences.
With funding from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga (NZFC) and support from a network of international Indigenous screen partners and filmmakers, the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab will build teams of Māori writers, directors, and producers to develop five feature film projects to become finance and production-ready.
This unique program blends mentorship, collaboration, and cultural grounding to foster a supportive environment where Māori filmmakers can refine their craft and connect with global audiences.
The Māoriland team reflected on the vision, purpose, and impact of the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab, sharing insights into what makes this initiative a transformative space for Indigenous storytellers.
The Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab is the product of a long-term vision that has evolved through Māoriland’s work in the Indigenous film space.
Madeleine Hakaraia de Young: “The Indigenous Co-Lab is something we’ve been working towards for a really long time. It hasn’t popped out of nowhere; it’s been a journey grounded in deep-rooted relationships with Indigenous filmmakers worldwide. For someone new to Māoriland, they might wonder how we got here, but it all stems from years of community, creativity, and collaboration.”
Libby Hakaraia: “20 years ago Indigenous festival directors around the world began asking me ‘When are you going to establish an Indigenous film festival in Aotearoa New Zealand?’
Our Māoriland early years were tough; we were celebrated internationally, but when we came home, our Māori films were often ignored. We stood up the screens at our festival for a way to share our stories with our community and break the perception that. they weren’t good enough to find audiences.”
Tainui Stephens: “Exactly, and that challenge really lit a fire under us. From the very beginning, Māoriland was about more than just films; it was about storytelling in a way that respected and uplifted our values. These values have been part of our mahi since we started this kaupapa. For example – our work with Ngā Pakiaka – tuakana-teina (elder-younger mentoring) was about showing a different way of doing things. Making films is hard work, but it needs to be done differently, and Māoriland has set up a springboard for us to launch into a new future.”
Madeleine: “The Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab is a natural evolution of that thinking. It’s not just about having a written series of Māori values; it’s about living them. At Māoriland, manaakitanga (hospitality) and kōtahitanga (unity), are not just ideas—they’re practices that shape how we operate every day. They support us to make spaces where Indigenous creatives can come together, collaborate, and grow, supported by our Kāhui—a council of Indigenous leaders from major screen entities like Sundance and imagineNATIVE.”
Libby: “And what makes the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab unique is that it’s not a pressure cooker writing programs. It’s actually the complete reverse with wellbeing and being Māori at the centre. By bringing people to Māoriland, we’ve seen them talk about feeling healed by the mauri here, the light, the moana, the awa, and the maunga. The environment itself gives you the focus and space you need to create.”
Tainui: “That’s the heart of it—creating an environment where the process of making films isn’t just about grinding away. It’s about connecting, grounding, and sharing. We’ve always believed that Indigenous film heals, and theMāoriland Indigenous Co-Lab is about nurturing that healing through storytelling.”
Madeleine: “We’re asking people to leap, to let go of the stories that hold them back, and to trust that once they take that leap, we’ll be there to hold them—and provoke them—to create something real. It’s a different support system, where you’re not working in isolation but as part of a community.”
Libby: “This has always been more than just about making films. It’s about building a future for Indigenous storytelling. The Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab is a chance for both emerging and established filmmakers to reimagine their stories and their methods. There’s something powerful about being surrounded by others who understand and share your journey.”
Tainui: “It’s exciting to think about the future we’re building. It’s not just about making movies—it’s about making space for stories that heal, connect, and inspire. That’s what the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab is all about.”
Libby: “And the best part is seeing how this collective effort grows. I see the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab as the opportunity many of us have been waiting for—to be surrounded by incredibly talented storytellers who are committed to enabling each other’s dreams”.
Madeleine: “In the end, we’re not just creating films; we’re creating connections. We’re fostering a community where Indigenous stories can flourish and where filmmakers can find their place within a global tapestry of Indigenous cinema. The Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab is our way of holding the door open and saying, ‘Come with us. Let’s make it happen together.’”
Libby: “We’re really asking, ‘What happens when we remain whānau in the way that we do things rather than individuals?’ It’s a collective approach, not just about individual success but about how one person’s achievement uplifts the whole community. When one of our stories is celebrated, no matter where it’s from, we are all elevated.”