MAHIKA KAI
Set against the wild terrain of Wānaka, MAHIKA KAI follows a family of Kāi Tahu cultural conservators on their mission to rehabilitate disintegrating landscapes through the regeneration of their traditional food gathering practices.
Tūmai Cassidy’s tautiakitaka (guardianship) draws on the wisdom of his ancestors, restoring both Māori food sources such as tuna (eel) and Weka (bird), as well as the language intrinsic to these practices. Tūmai’s Whānau (family) hold a deep connection to, and understanding of, this place. Their efforts in caring for Country are overcoming the destruction of colonisation that caused the decline of their whenua (land), bringing vitality and renewed growth to their communities and the local ecosystems.
Tūmai and his Whānau hope that one day the eels and native fish of Te Waipounamu are able to move freely through the water systems of Kāi Tahu once more.
"If you can’t feed your people from the land, if you can’t connect to the land, is it really your land?”
— Tūmai Cassidy
Credits
Featuring: Paulette Tamati Elliffe (Ōtākou, Kāi Te Pahi, Kāi Te Ruahikihiki, Kāti Hawea, Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha and Ngāti Mutunga), Komene Cassidy (Ngāi Takoto and Ngā Puhi), Te Atarau Cassidy (Kāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa, Ngā Puhi and Ngāi Takoto), Levi Fayne Makawhio Collier-Robinson (Kāi Tahu and Ngāti Apa ki te rā tō), Rangimāria-Te Arani-Waiātarere (Ōtākou and Kāi Tahu), Korako Edwards (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa), Aaria Rolleston (Kāi Tahu and Ngai Te Rangi), Tūtemākohu Tamati-Elliffe (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Tūvalu) & Professor Rangi Matamua (Tūhoe)
Starring: Tūmai Cassidy (Ōtākou, Kāi Te Pahi, Kāi Te Ruahikihiki, Kāti Hawea, Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāi Takoto and Ngā Puhi)
Director: Kieran Mpetyana Satour (Gurindj/Malngin, Pertame Arrernte and Worimi)
Creative Directors: Chris Searl and Campbell Milligan
Executive Producers: Jamie Brewer, Gizelle Regan and Ramona Telecican
Producer: Brescia Jordan
Production Assistant: Simone Mugavin
Director of Photography: Ryan Andrew Lee
1st Assistant Camera: Roy Schott
Gaffer: Joe Murdie
Locations Manager: Jonny James
Editor: Rah Dakota
Associate Online Editor: Joshua Davy
Cultural Consultant/Te Reo Māori Translator: Myles Maniapoto (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou)
Colourist: Matt Campbell
Sound Recordist: Danny Fairley
Composition/score: Laughton Kora (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Pūkeko)
Stills Photographer: Deanna Gerlach
Tēnei kā mihi kau atu ki kā uri o Tahu Pōtiki, ki kā Kaitiaki katoa o kā whenua taurikura e hāroa nei e te kāhu, o Te Waipounamu.
We acknowledge the descendants of Tahu Pōtiki and all Custodians of the lands overlooked by the soaring hawk, of Te Waipounamu — the mighty South Island.
Ki a koutou i whakaae mai kia horaina ake kā kōrero tuku iho a taua mā, a poua mā, kei te mihi.
We thank you for allowing us to share the knowledge passed down by your ancestors.
Otirā, ki kā mahi rakatira e tutuki nei kia ora tou ai te mauri o te whenua me te iwi.
We acknowledge the tireless efforts towards sustaining the vitality of the land and people.
E ai ki te whakataukī, ‘te toto o te takata, he kai; te oraka o te takata, he whenua.
As the proverb says, ‘food supplies the blood of man; his welfare depends on the land’.
Filmed on the traditional country of takata whenua, Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe and Waitaha. Always was, always will be.
MAHIKA KAI was produced in partnership with Monster Children, Lake Wānaka Tourism following GARUWA claiming the 2023 Monster Children Short Film Award for NGURRAWAANA, created with Juluwarlu Art Group.
MAHIKA KAI premiered at Māoriland Film Festival in March and was featured in the “A Wonderful World” program at the Wao Film Festival in May 2024.