Whina Feature Film Trailer. -

We are very proud to release the trailer for our feature film Whina - which will have its nationwide cinema release on June 23, 2022, aligning with the inaugural Matariki long weekend.

Whina tells the inspirational story of Dame Whina Cooper, New Zealand’s Te Whaea o Te Motu (The Mother of the Nation), her tumultuous life journey and unshakeable inner strength that led her to become one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most remarkable leaders. Whina’s life’s purpose for racial equality and land rights culminated in leading a sacred hīkoi (march) over six hundred kilometres, from the top of New Zealand to the national parliament in Wellington, to unite Māori pride and Pākehā honour.

Set over most of Dame Whina Cooper’s long life Whina stars Rena Owen (Ngāpuhi) (Once Were Warriors) as the elderly Whina and Miriama McDowell (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi) (Waru, The Dark Horse) as the younger Whina. Tioreore Ngātai-Melbourne portrays Whina as a teenager.

Made with full support of the Cooper whānau and Te Rarawa iwi leaders, the producers Matthew Metcalfe and Tainui Stephens (Te Rarawa) enlisted joint directing duo, James Napier Robertson, a renowned drama director, and Paula Whetu Jones (Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou), a skilled director of both drama and documentary, to bring this important part of NZ history to life on the big screen.

Made with funding from the New Zealand Film Commission, Ingenious Media, Traus Investments, and Images & Sound, Westmark Productions and the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production Grant and Screen Production Recovery Fund. Transmission Films will distribute Whina theatrically in New Zealand and Australia, with Cornerstone Pictures handling international sales.

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