EPISODE 1 - Pai in Paihia
Paitangi is the official kai karanga at Te Tii Marae Waitangi Celebrations. We meet her and profile her at work and at play and she talks about what it means to be Māori both here and internationally. She also talks about her expectations of going to Palestine and her dream of meeting bedouin wahine with moko kauae.
EPISODE 2 - Pai in Ramallah
Pai heads to El-Funoun Dance company, Palestine’s biggest dance company. El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe is an independent, nonprofit artistic organization that is virtually entirely volunteer-based. El-Funoun has been crowned as the lead Palestinian dance company in Palestine, as well as among Palestinians in exile.
EPISODE 3 - Paitangi goes to Hebron
Paitangi is taken on a tour of the old city of Hebron that used to boast the biggest market in the Westbank by Howayda Baker, a young woman who was born and bred in Hebron. Jewish settlers have taken over Palestinian homes that sit above the markets and the Palestinian stall holders are struggling to survive as the Old city now has checkpoints and armed soldiers. Pai meets the only female market stall owner operator who runs a women’s collective.
EPISODE 4 - Hebron Continued
After lunch in Hebron, Howayda takes us to the Palestinian Children’s Art Centre. The Palestinian Child Arts Centre in Hebron was set up for the child victims of atrocities in Hebron which saw the children painting in red and black only; red for blood and black for death. The progress to date has been phenomenal. The art produced by these kids is heart breaking and challenges our perceptions of how Palestinian children see the world.
Episode 5 - The road to Jericho
Paitangi is back in Jericho looking for Bedouin women who still carry traditional face tattoo. On the way she must travel along the infamous wall; a confronting 8m tall barrier that, more often than not, separates Palestine from Palestine. But this is not the only barrier she comes up against.
EPISODE 6 - from Jericho to Jerusalem
After much tea and talk, Pai gets to meet the Bedouin Nanny Saba, who is over 100 years old and wears the facial tattoo. She also heads into Jerusalem where Raed Said has agreed to talk with her about Palestinian music, instruments and growing up in Jerusalem
EPISODE 7 - Playing with Percussion
Paitangi continues her informal conversation with Palestinian percussionist Raed Said. She gains a better understanding of the complex issues surrounding learning of music and art in Jerusalem and she finally gets to give an unusual drum a bang.
EPISODE 8 - Women hold up half the sky
Paitangi spends the day wandering Jerusalem's old city with Nadin Burqan; a gifted, young Palestinian artist and a fierce advocate for women. Their korero wanders with them, covering everything from art, to religion, and her childhood memories of running through the crowded markets.
EPISODE 9 - Kids are Kids, everywhere the world over.
Pai is nervous as she heads into Shu'fat Refugee camp's children centre but the kids turn out to be the same as kids she has encountered all over the world..hau tutu!
EPISODE 10 - the last song for the day.
Visiting Mohammad was a grounding experience and was both a sobering yet uplifting end to my time in Palestine.. I hope, with all my heart that I will return.
About The Series
He Ao Kotahi sends prominent Māori artists thousands of miles from home to draw on and highlight the similarities between Maori and other indigenous cultures. Through their eyes and ears we will see how the art and culture of our indigenous cousins worldwide has evolved, and the measures taken to ensure their precious art forms survive into the 21st century.
In the first web-series, the multi-faceted Paitangi Ostick: Tā Moko artist, painter, and carver, travels to Palestine to observe, compare and collaborate with Palestinian artists and to follow a long held dream of meeting with the Bedouin Community to interact with their Kuia who are among the last remaining carriers of their tradition of facial moko.
Already screened on Maori Television (July 2017) was our one hour pilot featuring carver, Ta Moko artist and musician, Katz Maihi. Of the journey, Katz had this to say: "Despite any language challenges, we will be producing fine art and fine art is its own language. We will be creating a form of communication about our struggles, our strengths, our identity, differences, similarities and life. Any time we get to take our culture and history around the world we must do that. This opportunity will allow us into the homes of people from some of the oldest nations on earth."
Watch the web series and follow Paitangi's journey as she meets the resilient and resourceful Palestinian's ensuring the continuation of their precious art forms.
Learn more about the people, their culture and traditions in the He Ao Kotahi Team Talk, documenting some of the behind the scenes action that went into the making of the web-series.
Meet the Palestinian artists via our Artist Showcases, as well as a host of established NZ Maori arts practitioners.
Join us as we celebrate indigenous success here, in Aotearoa, and around the world.
Same Sky
Katz Maihi & Shadi Zaqtan
We wanted to do something special for the memorial today so we had the idea to try produce the song, that Katz and Shadi wrote while we were in Ramallah in Palestine in 2016. We put the call out, anyone want to come and the call was answered as 10 of us journeyed over to meet and collaborate with Palestinain artists. The song Katz and Shadi wrote was incomplete. But we wanted to finish it and we thought, the song could be a tribute to those affected by the tragic shooting that claimed 51 lives on the 15th March 2019. The song is called the Same Sky…and talks to the fact that we are all living under the same sky, we are the same, our hopes and dreams are the same..the earth, the sky ..all the same… Our He Ao Kotahi whanau wish everyone, everywhere.. peace…
The Team
Producer
PAULA WHETU JONES - Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Whakatōhea , Ngāti Porou
Paula is the Director of Whitiora Productions Ltd, a boutique production house based in Auckland, NZ. Paula’s directorial debut was in 2002 with the award-winning documentary, 'Gang Girls' and she has made a number of social issue documentaries since. Over the last few years Paula has branched out, turning her hand to film as a scriptwriter, completing her Masters of Creative Writing for Scriptwriters at Auckland University of Technology and most recently participating in the ground-breaking film project, 'Waru'. Paula is the brains behind the first He Ao Kotahi initiative featuring Katz Maihi, master carver, Tā Moko artist and awesome fullah; a one-hour documentary that screened on Māori Television in July, 2017. The intention is to recut this doco into a second web series and play it out after, "Pai in Palestine" is complete.
THE CREW - Pai in Palestine
ASHRAF DOWANI - CAM/SOUND - Ngāti Palestine
Awesome guy, translator, but usually had lots of trouble translating Kiwi English into Arabic. Born and raised in Jerusalem, my interest in photography and film began in 2009 when I gained my Bachelor Degree in Jordan. I worked as a Director of Photography at Shashat productions in Jordan in 2013 and have worked on many TV productions, music videos and TV commercials. I decided to come back to Palestine in 2014 to work as a freelance filmmaker and established a production house called Manshour Productions in Ramallah in late 2015. www.manshour.ps
"I love working with the kiwis" (the producer added this statement but we know it's true)
ASH STEWART - VIDEO EDITOR - Ngāti Pakeha
Ash has a real passion for creating engaging media that can connect and enthral an audience, and has experience working on both drama and factual documentary. He has also post-coordinated multiple projects through his company Hotshot Media, including the kids sci-fi web series, 'Reset'.
SHIRLEY ALLAN - PRODUCTION COORDINATOR / FIXER - Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi
(bag carrier, hurrier-upper, aunty, HAK spokesperson, cat herder, wahine toa)
Shirley is a native Aucklander, has accumulated over 20 years in the event and television industries and is an experienced project manager and producer. She's also spent a decade or two in the social development sector and brings specialist skills in community engagement and group facilitation. Shirley is a gifted cat-herder, is heavily inoculated against panic and happens to be an excellent parallel-parker (not so great with backing a trailer though).
RODNEY QUACH - GRAPHICS
My name is Rodney Quach. I was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1987. My official title would be Motion Graphic Artist. However, my interests extend out into many other avenues such as music, art, film and cooking.
My journey to the present day has been a valuable one. Developing my own style of creative expression, enhancing my strengths throughout the years. I’m always on the search for inspiration. I always strive to be better. Creating things is pretty much my life in a nutshell. www.rodneyquach.com
COLIN HARRISON - PHOTOGRAPHER - Ngāti Scotland
Apart from being born with a box brownie in my face I've had an avid interest in photography from a young age. My first camera was a very flimsy plastic affair that didn't take real pictures but looked the part, more along the lines of a 007 style, secret agent multi purpose weapon. However my latest affair with a camera is the Canon 6D. This does take real photos and with a bit of imagination, a degree in electronics, photonics and visualonics it's a beast. To capture that image; a split second in time, then look back at it and it can tell you a story or it begs an explanation and creates conversation, then it's a job well done and the satisfaction can be tangible.'
AWHINA MOA - PRODUCTION ANGEL - Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungungu
Kia Ora, my name is Awhina Moa. I was born in Gisborne but grew up in Hastings since 7 years old. I have a beautiful daughter 6 years old and have been a stay home mum since she was born. I have an awesome partner that has supported us this whole time. I have been given the opportunity doing some part time work with Paula and the Whitiora Production Crew and so far its been an awesome experience. I have learnt so much already and only wanting to learn more.
Mauri Ora.
CLEA PETTIT - WEB DESIGNER - Te Ātiawa
Ko Piripiri te Maunga, Ko Waitohi te Awa, Ko Waikawa te Marae, Ko Te Ātiawa te Iwi, Ko Clea taku ingoa. I designed the website for He Ao Kotahi and run web design company Manawa Design. My passion is working with Māori small businesses, creatives, artists and idea makers. I am inspired every day by the ridiculous amount of talent that comes through from our people. Website design for me, is a way to help broaden the global reach of Māori and share all the positive things we have to offer the world. The He Ao Kotahi site is an example of that.
ANTONIO TE MAIOHA - TRANSLATOR / MAORI VOICE OVER - Ngāpuhi, Tainui
Antonio translated our English in to Te Reo Māori and did the Maori Voice for our audio files He is a former recipient of the Tau Mai e Kāpiti writers residency & has also written two Plays in Te Reo. Antonio was one of the writers on Velvet Stone's Māori language television series Kairākau. As a co-presenter on the TV Gardening show Kiwi Maara he translated all his own pieces to camera. He has a published book of short stories in both Māori and English and he is pleased to announce that they will be released soon.
TE WIREMU - ENGLISH VOICE OVER
Waka: Tākitimu me Mātaatua , Hapū : Ngāti Whakaiti, Maunga: Kahurānaki me Panekire. Raised in Wine Country Hawkes Bay New Zealand, Te Wiremu's voice goes down just as well as the local award winning wines. Opera singer, entertainer, vocal coach, choreographer, choir master and voice over technician, Te Wiremu has mastered them all.
DAN NATHAN - AUDIO POST - Te Roroa
Ko Maunganui te maunga, ko Waipoua te Awa, ko Kawerua te Moana, ko Manumanu te tāngata. I takoto ai tōna whakataukī ina rā tō Iwi āno he koroī Te Roroa.
Dan’s diverse skillset has seen him working in many roles in the media industry. He has spent over a decade tweaking all things audio and is creative director of production company Tupu Films that focuses on kaupapa driven documentary. He also has spent time working in audio post for film and tv, producing music, and is currently lecturing in film sound at Unitec’s School of Performing and Screen Arts. He has a passion for music, film and indigenous storytelling.