As the constellation of Matariki rises to mark a time of remembrance, renewal, and reconnection, a powerful new film is set to illuminate cinemas across the country. KŌKĀ, the debut feature by director Kath Akuhata-Brown, is not just a film, it’s a cinematic milestone, celebrating te ao Māori through a story grounded in whakapapa, language, and healing.
Opening this Matariki weekend, KŌKĀ will screen in over 100 cinemas nationwide, thanks to the support of theatres committed to bringing uniquely Māori stories to local audiences.
Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Aotearoa, the film follows kuia Hamo (Hinetu Dell) and Jo (Darneen Christian), two women carrying trauma and seeking healing. They are joined by Marcus (Te Kohe Tuhaka), whose steady presence adds spiritual depth to their journey. Guided by the stars of Matariki, their road trip becomes a journey of reconciliation—with each other, with their pasts, and with the land.
What sets KŌKĀ apart is its linguistic and cultural authenticity. It is the first feature film told entirely in the Ngāti Porou dialect of te reo Māori, a linguistic taonga carefully revived through collaboration with language and tikanga experts. This commitment to revitalisation mirrors the themes of Matariki, a time to honour ancestors and envision the future.
Director Kath Akuhata-Brown says:
“With KŌKĀ, I wanted to honour our tīpuna and our language, and show that healing is possible when we come together under the stars of Matariki. This is a story of connection—not just between two people, but between generations, cultures, and time itself.”
KŌKĀ was made with support from the New Zealand Film Commission’s He Pounamu te reo Māori Feature Film Fund Initiative, which supports feature films produced entirely in te reo Māori. The film will be distributed in New Zealand and Australia by STUDIOCANAL.
KŌKĀ is a celebration of Māori storytelling, a testament to the resilience of indigenous voices, and a taonga for Aotearoa this Matariki.
