Libby Hakaraia
Company Director
Producer/Director
Libby Hakaraia is a producer and director with over 25 years experience in broadcasting and journalism.
This includes 1000’s of hours of interviewing for radio and televison as well as producing and directing 16 prime time documentaries for TV1, TV3 and MTS.
For many years, Libby has been a key participant in the independent film and television production industry. Libby has been both an executive member of the board of Nga Aho Whakaari – Maori in the Screen production as well as an executive board member of SPADA –the NZ Screen Production and Development Association.
Libby Hakaraia has a strong background in both Television and Radio journalism and current affairs. She has won a number of awards, traveled widely both nationally and internationally and has a strong grounding in Maori affairs.
Documentaries and Series
Corporate/Training Video
Short Films
Books (writer)
Producer/Director
Libby Hakaraia is a producer and director with over 25 years experience in broadcasting and journalism.
This includes 1000’s of hours of interviewing for radio and televison as well as producing and directing 16 prime time documentaries for TV1, TV3 and MTS.
For many years, Libby has been a key participant in the independent film and television production industry. Libby has been both an executive member of the board of Nga Aho Whakaari – Maori in the Screen production as well as an executive board member of SPADA –the NZ Screen Production and Development Association.
Libby Hakaraia has a strong background in both Television and Radio journalism and current affairs. She has won a number of awards, traveled widely both nationally and internationally and has a strong grounding in Maori affairs.
Documentaries and Series
- Requiem for Charlie Documentary MTS 2012 (ANZAC Day documentary on Maori Battalion Veteran Charlie Shelford)
- The Scotsman and the Maori Documentary MTS 2010 (Dame Anne Salmond retraces her Great Grandfathers journey as a filmmaker and photographer)
- It’s in the Bag - 13 x 26 min Entertainment show MTS series 1-4 (ongoing)
- Tatai Hono series 1-4 (13 x 30mins factual series) MTS 2006-2008
- Kapiti Island documentary (MTS 2007)
- Fat Freddy’s Drop in Europe (MTS 2006);
- New Brighton Road (TV3 2006)
- Rediscovering the Lost Songs of Sir Apirana Ngata (2004, MTS)
- Whangai (TV3, 2004)
- Pakeha Maori (TV1 2004)
- Gang Kids (TV3, 2003)
- Ihi FrENZy (TV3 English Version 2003)
- Chinks, Coconuts & Currymunchers (TV3 2002)
- Ihi FrENZy (MTS & TV3, (2002)
- Manhattan Maori (TV1 2002)
- Stopping the Bash (TV3 2001)
- Someone Else’s Child (TV3) (2001 Finalist TV Awards)
- Trip of A Lifetime (TV3, 2001)
- The Truth About Maori (TV3, 2000 Finalist TV Awards).
Corporate/Training Video
- Rugby World Cup
- Creative NZ - several films including Auckland Arts Festival, Toronto Festival, International Festival of the Arts.
- Tourism NZ
- Maori Tourism Council –2 x 30 min promotional films
- Air New Zealand in flight video; Destination NZ (2005)
Short Films
- Director - The Lawnmower Men of Kapu (NZ Film Commission 2011)
- Producer - Kehua (Creative NZ and NZ Film Commission 2009) premiered Berlin Film Festival 2009
- Producer : Hawaikii (NZ Film Commission 2007) – premiered Berlin Film Festival 2007. Winner of a number of national and international awards
Books (writer)
- Matariki – the Maori New Year (Art works)
- Celebrating Matariki (2006)
- Matariki, Te Tau Hou o Maori 2004,
Tainui Stephens
Producer/Director
Tainui Stephens (Te Rarawa) is an independent film and television producer, director,
executive producer, writer, presenter, and voice artist.
Tainui started his working life in 1980 as an investigating officer for the Office Of The Race
Relations Conciliator. He commenced his broadcasting career with Television New Zealand
in 1984. As a director, producer and executive producer he was responsible for over 500
hours of programming.
Tainui is committed to the role of the Maori storyteller in all modern media. He has been a
long time advocate and practitioner of Maori language broadcasting. He is comfortable
working in a wide range of genre and content.
He is personally attracted to compelling
stories that critique and celebrate the human condition.
As a producer, programmes like Te Kohanga Reo (1986), Koha (1987-88), Marae (1990-93),
Mai Time (1995-2000), Waka Huia (1999/2000), Waitangi Kotahi Te Ra (2007/2008) and
Anzac Day: Na Ratou Mo Tatou (2006 - 2008) have helped to give Maori stories and
language a permanent television presence.
Tainui has brought Maori television stories to international audiences with documentary
series co-productions like Storytellers Of The Pacific (TV Ontario/ABC, 1993) and Family
(Film Australia, 1995).
As a writer and director: Maori Battalion March To Victory (1990) is the remarkable story of
Maori volunteers fighting in World War Two. The Black Singlet Legacy (1991) tells the proud
history of Maori in the meat industry. When The Haka Became Boogie (1992) is the story of
Maori prowess in the world of popular entertainment.
The Utterly Confused Person’s Guide To Bi-Culturalism (1993) examines the dilemma and joy of mixed marriage.
Icon In B Minor(1996) is a musical odyssey with concert pianist Michael Houstoun and the music of Franz Liszt.
The New Zealand Wars (1998) with James Belich is a critically acclaimed telling of the
country’s civil wars of the 19th century.
He Whare Korero (2004) celebrates the Maori language with linguist Timoti Karetu. Bub & Nen (2007) is a love story between two cultural icons. Let My Whakapapa Speak (2008) profiles Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi and the revival of the Maori language through pre-school education.
Taonga TV (2010) tells the history of Maori Television.
Requiem For Charlie (2012) is a dramatic documentary about World War Two and the personal cost of combat.
Hitler & The Gumdiggers (2013) tells an epic and intimate story of the northern tribes of the Maori Battalion.
Rere Ki Uta, Rere Ki Tai (1986) was his first documentary as a film director. His first dramatic
short film The Hill (2002) was selected for competition in the Sundance and Berlin festivals.
He was a producer for the Vincent Ward feature films River Queen (2005), and Rain Of The
Children (2008). He was an associate producer for Armagan Ballantyne’s debut feature The
Strength Of Water (2009).
Tainui Stephens (Te Rarawa) is an independent film and television producer, director,
executive producer, writer, presenter, and voice artist.
Tainui started his working life in 1980 as an investigating officer for the Office Of The Race
Relations Conciliator. He commenced his broadcasting career with Television New Zealand
in 1984. As a director, producer and executive producer he was responsible for over 500
hours of programming.
Tainui is committed to the role of the Maori storyteller in all modern media. He has been a
long time advocate and practitioner of Maori language broadcasting. He is comfortable
working in a wide range of genre and content.
He is personally attracted to compelling
stories that critique and celebrate the human condition.
As a producer, programmes like Te Kohanga Reo (1986), Koha (1987-88), Marae (1990-93),
Mai Time (1995-2000), Waka Huia (1999/2000), Waitangi Kotahi Te Ra (2007/2008) and
Anzac Day: Na Ratou Mo Tatou (2006 - 2008) have helped to give Maori stories and
language a permanent television presence.
Tainui has brought Maori television stories to international audiences with documentary
series co-productions like Storytellers Of The Pacific (TV Ontario/ABC, 1993) and Family
(Film Australia, 1995).
As a writer and director: Maori Battalion March To Victory (1990) is the remarkable story of
Maori volunteers fighting in World War Two. The Black Singlet Legacy (1991) tells the proud
history of Maori in the meat industry. When The Haka Became Boogie (1992) is the story of
Maori prowess in the world of popular entertainment.
The Utterly Confused Person’s Guide To Bi-Culturalism (1993) examines the dilemma and joy of mixed marriage.
Icon In B Minor(1996) is a musical odyssey with concert pianist Michael Houstoun and the music of Franz Liszt.
The New Zealand Wars (1998) with James Belich is a critically acclaimed telling of the
country’s civil wars of the 19th century.
He Whare Korero (2004) celebrates the Maori language with linguist Timoti Karetu. Bub & Nen (2007) is a love story between two cultural icons. Let My Whakapapa Speak (2008) profiles Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi and the revival of the Maori language through pre-school education.
Taonga TV (2010) tells the history of Maori Television.
Requiem For Charlie (2012) is a dramatic documentary about World War Two and the personal cost of combat.
Hitler & The Gumdiggers (2013) tells an epic and intimate story of the northern tribes of the Maori Battalion.
Rere Ki Uta, Rere Ki Tai (1986) was his first documentary as a film director. His first dramatic
short film The Hill (2002) was selected for competition in the Sundance and Berlin festivals.
He was a producer for the Vincent Ward feature films River Queen (2005), and Rain Of The
Children (2008). He was an associate producer for Armagan Ballantyne’s debut feature The
Strength Of Water (2009).