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Text reads, "Our Aotearoa".

10m

How do people maintain connections to their cultural roots while being a New Zealand immigrant?

Produced by Hybrid Snail Productions

Short Film

Our Aotearoa is an animated documentary that speaks to immigrants’ personal experiences living in Aotearoa, exploring themes of racism, discrimination, loss, loneliness, and maintaining cultural ties while living in another country.
Film
10m

Trailers & bonus video

Trailer

How do people maintain connections to their cultural roots while being a New Zealand immigrant?
1m

Part 1: Harmonious Heart

Singing is a big part of Lala's identity and Madagascan culture. Arriving in NZ, she felt alone, but through her resilience, she found her voice, creating a women's community choir in Wellington.
3m

Part 2: Identity Crossroads

Turned down from multiple jobs in NZ, [anonymous] now teaches Korean to children. He feels a pull to return to Korea, but does he denounce his citizenship to stay in NZ, or join the Korean army?
4m

Part 3: Finding Whānau

[anonymous] found their move to NZ difficult. Eventually, they found Tiwhanawhana, a queer kapa haka group, and felt accepted. Their new whānau helped them rediscover their connection to their cultural roots.
5m

Produced by

Hybrid Snail Productions

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Video section home

Dark grey background with yellow text reading, "The Barber Shope". There is a illustration in the same yellow of a Māori design.
A hillside is draped with a large Māori flag, on the ridge line stands a single figure and another Māori flag. Text in a painted font reads "Ake Ake Ake"
A man is wearing a suit and tie and smiling at the camera with his head slightly tilted to the left. He has a thick moustache, behind him the room is dark but seems to be an office. Text reads, "The Citizen's Handbook" in light pink.
Piripi is wearing a shirt and a cap and looks into the camera smiling. He is leaning against the side of a vehicle. Text reads, "Oe, The Adventures of of Piripi Kaiwaru AKA Phillip! Narrated by his Mother" There is a small illustration of a truck under the text, as well as illustrations of deer horns and a kangaroo.
A birds'-eye view of some military items sitting scattered on a desk, including a map, a hat, playing cards, and a couple of coins. The text in the middle reads "Back to Timor."
Black and white faces of Helen Clark, Dame Jenny Shipley, Jim Bolger Geoffrey Palmer and Mike Moore, with the words 'The 9th Floor' underneath them. The background of the image is black.
The back of someone looking up at a big red firework exploding in the night sky. Text reads, "Giants Giants Giants". The last "Giants" fades into the background.
A person sitting on a hill looking out onto an inlet. The image is take from behind the person. Text reads, "Inside Outside". There is an overlay of a recording boarder along the perimeter of the image.
A Muslim man in a blue shirt stands in a mosque. The text reads "This Is Us"
Foggy scene with silhouettes of a part of a person. Text reads, "Stolen Lands: Betrayal of a Chief".
Two men embracing in a MMA octagon ring. They look sweaty post match. It's dark around them but they are standing in a spotlight. Text reads, "Fighting Chance".
A brightly colours grid of squares where some of the squares include the faces of the five hosts of Whakamāori
Charlotte Cook leaning on a bench and smiling. Beside her is a stack of cookbooks and a bowl of tomatoes. Text reads, "Grilled, with Charlotte Cook".
Guyon Espiner on a black background, looking at camera with logo behind him
Black and white image of a portion of an All Blacks rugby team photo. Men standing with arms folded looking at the camera wearing sports uniforms. Text reads, "All Blacks at War".
A white pick-up truck drives up a winding country road, surrounded by dry New Zealand farmland. The text reads "The Turning Point"
A man wearing sunglasses and a tartan hat is looking out to the left. Text reads, "Our Other Islands".
A team of young field hockey players in a triangle formation in the midst of a haka. They're all dressed the same in blue long sleeve tops and navy track pants and are holding hockey sticks. Text reads, "Ruamata: It's More Than Hockey".
A bagpipe band stand in a field ready to perform. The text reads: "12,000 Miles from NZ to the Green."
A person sitting on a stool, they're looking down. The image has been edited so that there's a strong orange toned light covering the image, obscuring the figures face. The text reads, "The Outliers".
Text reads, "Treaty Talks Aotearoa, Hosted by Kara Rickard". Surrounding the text is an image of a version of the Coat of Arms, the 'Crown' figure is holding a Māori flag.
The silhouette of a man against a sun either rising or setting, the sky is mostly green with a thin bank of orange light along the horizon. Text reads, "Meng".
Young man with soot on his face looking into the camera, in his left hand he's holding a Patu (weapon). Text reads, "NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana".
A man standing with his arms crossed looking at the camera, he has visible tattoos on both forearms. He's highlighted with a blue light. Text reads, "NZ Hip Hop Stand Up" in neon green and pink.