Hoki atu ki to kainga tupu / Find your way home.

Join us for a special Q&A screening of KOKA, the first feature from writer/director Kath Akuhata-Brown. 

ABOUT THE FILM

KOKA follows Maori elder Hamo (Hinetu Dell) and local delinquent Jo (Darneen Christian) who form an unlikely bond on a road trip in a Ford Falcon. Together, they confront past traumas and each face their demons; their shared path becomes a journey of healing, community, and reconciliation. KOKA is the first feature to use the original dialect of East Cape iwi Ngati Porou.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Kath Akuhata-Brown - Director

Kath Akuhata-Brown is a New Zealand filmmaker of Maori descent (Ngati Porou) who is renowned for telling stories that are deeply authentic to her Maori cultural heritage. Kath was a development executive at the New Zealand Film Commission and is currently a script development advisor to the Maori content funding body, Te Mangai Paho. Kath has produced several award-winning short films and is an advisor to the Netflix Original Australian Drama series Surviving Summer and the New Zealand / UK Co-production drama series Mystic. In 2019, Kath shot a short film, Purea, which was selected for the NZ International Film Festival. KOKA is Kath’s first feature film.

Hinetu Dell - Actor 

Hinetu Dell is of Ngati Porou descent and lives in Ruatoria on the East Coast of New Zealand's North Island. After a career as a Te Reo Maori teacher and highly respected Te Matatini coach and judge, Hinetu turned to acting and has starred in Purea (2020), Vai (2019), Hinekura (2019), and Waka Huia (2017).

Darneen Christian - Actor

Darneen Christian (Tuhoe, Ngati Kahungunu, Pitcairn Island) is a 28-year-old actor from Porirua City. As a tween, Darneen was drawn to acting and set her sights on attending Te Kura Toi Whakaari o Aotearoa: New Zealand Drama School. In her final year, Christian was cast as Mehe in her breakthrough role in the TV series The Dead Lands and has also had lead roles in two short films, Krystal (2019) and The Daughter (2020).

Te Kohe Tuhaka - Actor

Te Kohe Tuhaka’s screen career has included Taika Waititi's short film Tama Tu, language learning show Korero Mai, and Shortland Street. His work as a presenter includes TV's Marae Kai Masters and fashion show Freestyle. Onstage, he was praised by Time Out Australia for his "extraordinary intensity" in the solo play Michael James Manaia. The longtime action fan played villain Wirepa in te reo movie The Dead Lands, then later co-starred in the Dead Lands TV series.

Don’t miss your chance to experience this powerful film and hear from local film industry creatives. Secure your seat by booking your tickets now!