Three figures from different original images have been edited so that they're all standing next to each other and are of varying sizes. All three people are in the midst of performing. The background in a flat bright red colour.

The Collective

16m

The Collective is an eight-part video series following six young Auckland musicians preparing for a make-or-break gig.

Made with the support of NZ On Air

Series details.

Credits

Rachale Davies
Creator & Series Producer
Alexis Smith
Director
Alice Murray
RNZ Commissioning
Tim Burnell
RNZ Commissioning
Kay Ellmers
RNZ Commissioning

The Collective is an eight-part video series following a group of six young musicians as they work towards the biggest performance of their lives.

It’s a powerful journey of self-discovery guided by Crescendo Studio, a commercial recording facility that runs free and funded youth music production and radio programmes based in West Auckland. Run by Blindspott’s Marcus Powell and Nesian Mystic’s David Atai, Crescendo helps rangatahi build a future in music.

The programme is a lifeline to the young musicians who star in this uplifting video series. They’ve all experienced the darker side of life and are working to heal the emotional wounds of homelessness, drug addiction, sexual assault, loneliness, gang life... Everyone is welcome in the Crescendo whānau.

Mentors Marcus and David are joined by Riccardo Ball (Just One Fix) and Cat Percy. Together they call upon friends in the music industry to help mentor and guide the young musicians as they plan the gig of a lifetime at Auckland’s Tuning Fork.

The series features appearances from award-winning and internationally renowned artists, including MC Tali, Melodownz, Laughton Kora, Emma Dilemma, and No Comply.

The six up-and-coming artists are:

• Mahima aka EMCEA

• Iris aka Iris G

• Mataio aka Ace Swamii

• Amelia aka Lesboss

• Trey & Jay aka 2

• Trae & Yhung Jae.

Produced by

Boxed Media partner logo for use on dark background

Made with the support of

Partner Logo for NZ on Air for use on dark background

Get in touch

More like this

  • Thomas Coysh

    New
    After some difficulty finding employment, Thomas Coysh turned his focus to Para alpine skiing and spends the ski season training on Cardrona's slopes. Bunking in a yurt nearby, he skis with his ski guide, John, who uses audio cues through the use of headsets or speakers for Thomas to ski untethered.
    Sight Unseen/Episode 1
    7m

  • Back to Timor

    Back to Timor follows the journey of four Kiwi military veterans who return to East Timor 25 years after serving as peacekeepers there. The big question for them: did they make a difference?
    Back to Timor/Film
    43m

  • Documentary

    In 2018, RNZ followed the St Paul's College Samoan group as they sacrificed weeks of their lives to compete for Polyfest glory.
    Seven Weeks: Journey to Polyfest/Film
    1h 0m

  • Full Concert

    Toiere (meaning to sing) unites beloved operatic arias, duets, and ensembles in their original languages and te reo Māori, celebrating voice, language, and identity while honouring Aotearoa New Zealand's rich cultural landscape and opera's universal emotions. Experience the beauty, drama, and emotion of these operatic treasures reimagined through the lends of Aotearoa's rich cultural tapestry. Starring some of NZ's hottest operatic talent, including Kawiti Waetford, Katherine Winitana, Elisha Fa'i-So'oialo, Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono, and Joel Amosa with pianist Juan Kim.
    Toiere/Film
    1h 21m

  • Documentary

    After Indira Gandhi's assassination, the 1984 Sikh Massacre unfolded, with thousands of Sikhs violently killed over three days. Many sought asylum. 1984 follows their journey to find home in Aotearoa after enormous tragedy.
    1984/Film
    1h 4m

  • Documentary

    This documentary looks at the results of Niue's constitution through the eyes of those who have stayed, those who left, those who returned. But most importantly for the survival of Niue, this will be for those to come...
    Being Niuean/Film
    44m

  • Fly Like a Moa

    Kauri isn't allowed to go rock-climbing with Lani. Kauri meets a moa and learns that everyone has different strengths.
    What Will I Be Today?/Season 1/Episode 1
    5m

  • Documentary

    Contains nudity, opinion and strong language. Myths & Maidens is a rich tapestry of stories from women across the Pacific. It delves into colourism, fatphobia, and how our societies have been taught to view women of colour across the ages.
    Myths & Maidens/Film
    56m

  • The Rise and Fall

    Isabella Moore’s career soared with body positivity, but fashion’s return to thinness now threatens everything she’s fought for as a Samoan-Kiwi curve model.
    Cutting the Curve/Episode 1
    10m

  • "No Ride. Just Pure Vibes and Aroha."

    Torrell and Trexx kick off their race across the North Island, relying on Kiwi kindness to complete their first challenges in Auckland and Wellington.
    The All Goods Race/Episode 1
    10m

  • A Dress and a Cardigan for Mele

    In Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, Tongan grandmother Liliani and her daughter Kesaia find that even though they talk every day on the phone (and have for 17 years), they have more in common than they thought.
    Conversations With My Immigrant Parents/Season 1/Episode 1
    3m

  • Kareem

    Originally from Egypt, Kareem shows us his absolute love of tennis as a way to connect with the community.
    This Is Us/Episode 1
    2m

  • Tangata Whenua

    The first episode tackles the settlement of Aotearoa. From Polynesian travelers, right through to British and European settlers.
    The Citizen's Handbook/Season 1/Episode 1
    11m

  • Edward Osei-Nketia

    At 19, Eddie Osei-Nketia is the fastest person in Australasia, and is looking to break the New Zealand 100m record.
    The Outliers/Episode 1
    7m

  • 3 the Hard Way, "Hip Hop Holiday"

    This episode showcases 3 the Hard Way’s first debut single ‘Hip Hop Holiday’. It was the first single with a NZ On Air-funded video to reach No.1, where it solidly remained for three weeks in early 1994.
    NZ Hip Hop Stand Up/Season 2/Episode 1
    9m

  • Mez & Mahlete

    New
    Mez & Mahlete Tekeste only envisioned the Black Lives Matter protest march to be themselves and a close circle of friends. Within 24 hours, their flyer had been shared by some of the biggest names in New Zealand.
    Generation Next/Season 1/Episode 1
    9m

  • Josh Davies

    Josh has 15% vision in his good eye. City life with four senses sounds easy!
    Inside Outside/Episode 1
    7m

  • Aotearoa - Waking Up to the Dawn Raids

    The Dawn Raids story is overdue to be told. Long whispered about in secret family conversations, people have heard the words "dawn raids" but not what really happened.
    Untold Pacific History/Season 1/Episode 1
    14m

  • The Topp Twins

    The Topp Twins explore Splore for the first time.
    Inside Splore /Episode 1
    5m

  • Beneath the Surface

    There's more to these islands than what you see.
    Chatham Islanders/Episode 1
    26m

  • Fine Arts

    We meet three fine artists whose work transcends gallery walls: sculptor Yona Lee, interdisciplinary artist Yuki Kihara, and painter Simon Kaan.
    ASIA: Art Stories in Aotearoa/Episode 1
    22m

  • Bob Marley - "Redemption Song"

    New
    In this episode of Whakamāori, the team take on one of the most iconic protest songs of all time: Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." A waiata of resistance, remembrance, and hope, its lyrics speak to the pain of colonisation and the fight for freedom—messages that deeply resonate here in Aotearoa. The panel—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Piripi Winiata—translate the lyrics into te reo Māori, unpacking the metaphors, the history, and the spiritual heartbeat behind the song. It's a kōrero about liberation—not just political, but personal—and how te reo can carry that wero into our own stories.
    Whakamāori/Season 3/Episode 10
    40m

  • Chinese

    We meet the Chinese community in Dunedin and learn about one of Aotearoa’s most established migrant communities
    GIANTS/Episode 1
    26m

  • Misty Frequency

    Drag icon Misty Frequency kaupapa is to celebrate autistic and Takatāpui excellence. They are looking to storm the stage at the Drag Wars competition with a cash prize up for grabs.
    What's the Disabili-Tea/Episode 1
    8m

  • Shareef

    Drugs, lies and regret became a reality for Shareef after an encounter with some local gang affiliates, but growing up in the North has shaped this proud takatāpui into who he is today.
    The Barber Shop/Episode 1
    6m

  • Welly on a Plate

    In 2018, a huge amount of cooked spaghetti was dumped on Wellington’s Mt. Vic lookout and we still don’t know why. Bubbah is shocked people have just moved on. How could you move on from this?!
    ConspiraSeries/Episode 1
    9m

  • Maxime Gnojczak

    Maxime Gnojczak -- head chef at Concord -- served cabbage-and-banana tamales, North African spiced lamb, and baked apples.
    Five Nights at Everybody Eats /Episode 1
    15m

  • Kōtiro

    Jess sits down with Māori-Jewish talent Ana Chaya Scotney to discuss her thrilling debut album, dawn ocean swimming, and how she creates her singular “high lonesome sound."
    Amplified/Episode 1
    15m

  • Meng

    Meng is a one hour bilingual documentary that follows former Gisborne mayor and current Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon.
    Meng/Film
    52m

  • Episode 1

    Clothing expression is important to Wairua. Mia connects with her culture by spending time away. Lavi talks about cultural expectations. Theia feels welcomed by her own and judged by others.
    Duality/Episode 1
    21m

  • Episode 1

    Piripi takes us on a tour of his kingdom, introducing his girlfriend Luxy and showcasing his many talents, which include cleaning the whare and doing the lawns... NOT!
    The Adventures of Piripi Kaiwaru AKA Phillip! /Season 1/Episode 1
    9m

  • Episode 1

    The programme has started and the trainers are not taking it easy on the new guys.
    Fighting Chance/Episode 1
    26m

  • Bondi Babes

    Soph's first flight to Sydney leads her to Bondi Beach post-accident, where sand and wheelchairs clash. With the help of lifeguards, she discovers how accessible the beach can be!
    This Is Wheel Life/Season 2/Episode 7
    14m

  • Mohi

    Mohi Allen weaves smokey jazz, pop and te reo Māori together to create a unique and smooth sound, reminding us of decades past.
    Imposter/Episode 1
    9m

  • The Driving Lesson

    When Trish, a spirited mother, decides to give her son Mana a driving lesson, what was intended to be a simple rite of passage quickly escalates into a chaotic encounter.
    A Place Called Te Awamutu/Episode 1
    5m

  • Jason

    Summer at Penguin Place can be hectic, as Jason juggles hoiho (yellow-eyed-penguin) rescues, daily feeding sessions, tour groups, and bird releases - all in a day’s work!
    The Turning Point/Episode 1
    13m

  • Tyrell

    Tyrell Taylor found a like-minded community of BMX riders, where rangatahi are given a chance to expand their skill set, be mentored, and be seen as equals. He reminds us not to forget what makes you happy.
    No Limits/Episode 1
    11m

  • IllumiNGĀTI

    Sibling vocalists Raiha, Hōrihi, & Hāne lead IllumiNgāti, a reggae band from Kawakawa covering Dave Para’s "You’re Magic" & debuting their bilingual single, "Illusion."
    The Barber Shop Sessions/Episode 1
    6m

  • Our Aotearoa

    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.
    Our Aotearoa/Film
    10m

  • Kāinga

    Kāinga navigates the thorny terrain of home in Aotearoa New Zealand from the perspectives of 8 Pan-Asian women.
    Kāinga/Film
    1h 27m

  • Flower Pot Boombox

    Fat Freddy’s Drop depart Auckland, bound for London, 2003. Taking up residence for six weeks in Tooting, South London, the band sets up a studio in the lounge, and get straight into rehearsals and making beats.
    MARAUDERS/Season 1/Episode 1
    9m

  • Serenade

    Mac helps a Palagi boy win over an island girl with an original song.
    I Got You/Season 1/Episode 1
    4mvertical

  • Meet and Greet

    It's the highly anticipated first day of the netball season, aka Jim's send-off. Will Kate be able to assemble her team of misfits in time?
    Here If You Need/Episode 1
    9m

  • Part 1 (2024)

    Ruamata captures the journey of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata's rise to the top of hockey in Aotearoa as they become the first Māori immersion school in a century to compete in the prestigious Rankin Cup.
    Ruamata: It's More Than Hockey/Film
    1h 0m

  • Chelsea Winstanley: Overcoming trauma and coming out on top

    Oscar-nominated film producer Chelsea Winstanley talks to Anika about overcoming trauma, taking risks, and coming out on top.
    It's Personal with Anika Moa/Season 1/Episode 1
    47m

  • Katchafire: Legacy

    The story of the Māori band Katchafire, as they struggle to find their way through volatile creative differences and a changing music landscape.
    Katchafire: Legacy/Film
    53m

  • Desert Dream

    Upon arriving in Joshua Tree, California, Troy Kingi and his band are taken to a sacred site by the local Tangata Whenua in 40 degree celsius temperatures.
    Troy Kingi's Desert Hīkoi/Episode 1
    17m

  • Gloss Finish

    A person with sweaty hands searches for a dance partner who, like them, bears the clammy burden of a gloss finish.
    Day One Shorts/Season 2/Episode 1
    13m

  • Kia Tupato (Be Careful)

    With tensions rising between the new government and tangata whenua, Wayne and his traffic-management crew brace for the biggest Waitangi Day celebration in Aotearoa New Zealand's history.
    Hi-Vis/Episode 1
    6m

  • Out There

    Zoologist-turned-filmmaker Alexis Smith joins a mysterious network in New Zealand dedicated to communicating with extraterrestrials.
    Loading Docs/Season 10/Episode 1
    13m

  • James McKenzie

    The outlaw who committed the most Kiwi of crimes: sheep-stealing. James McKenzie rustled hundreds of sheep and became such a legend that a large part of the South Island still bears his name.
    My Favourite Dead Person/Season 3/Episode 1
    9m

  • Ground Work

    In the first of a three-part series, bands from Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland travel to Scotland to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships.
    12,000 Miles/Episode 1
    36m

  • Lau Yuet Seen

    It was September 1938 when Lau Yuet Seen received word from her husband to leave Fah Dei for Hong Kong as soon as possible. The Japanese troops were close to landing north of Hong Kong.
    Farewell Guangdong/Episode 1
    22m

  • Inspiration to Write

    Nina Mingya Powles (writer & poet) grew up near Katherine Mansfield's Wellington home. KM ‘loomed’ over her childhood. Powles & graphic artist Sarah Laing make Mansfield a contemporary character.
    Shine On Katherine Mansfield/Episode 1
    7m

  • Mamas Return to Play

    Juggling new motherhood in often-isolated countries and continuing a sports career can have big pressures on Pasifika women.
    Outside the Lines/Episode 1
    9m

Video section home

Browse all
The back of a woman walking down a path, she's wearing white pants and a silver shiny top with silver tassels coming off the back and arms. Her arms are outstretched. Text reads, "Inside Splore".
A vertical poster showing three young men sitting in front of a dark wall, with the title 'Rū ANA TE WHENUA: Alien Weaponry Shake Europe' displayed.
An adult person is holding a young child in their arms and hugging them. Text reads, "Blind Bitter Happiness".
The host, Mihingarangi Forbes, smiling at the camera. Text reads, "Mata".
A black-and-white image of Joy Cowley on a swing. The text in front of her reads: "JOY, FULL & FEARLESS."
A bagpipe band stand in a field ready to perform. The text reads: "12,000 Miles from NZ to the Green."
Three figures from different original images have been edited so that they're all standing next to each other and are of varying sizes. All three people are in the midst of performing. The background in a flat bright red colour. Text in the style of graffiti reads, "The Collective". A spray painted illustration of a crown appears above the 'e' in 'Collective'.
A close up of a video game controller, the lighting makes it look slightly pink and blue. Text reads, "Game Change".
A group of people performing a haka outside amongst the trees. The person at the front is in focus and doing a pukana. Text reads, "NZ Wars: The Stories of Ruapekapeka".
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.
Bob Lowry, wearing an eyepatch, crown, and shirt with the words "In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is King," holds a finger in the air. The graphic is white and teal with a title to the left of him and curving below which reads: "I Am a Dark River"
On a dark-brown background, the light-brown text reads: "MATA REPORTS."
On the left side of the graphic is the back of a yellow-on-black female athlete as she walks away. On the right side is a block of yellow. In the middle, written from top to bottom, is the text "OUTSIDE" in black and "THE LINES" in yellow.
A transparent figure of the back of a man, overlayed with another transparent image of the same figure but just his shoulders and back of his head. Text reads, "Duality". it's written in transparent white block letters and yellow cursive overlapped.
People standing in a forest clearing, backlit by the sun. They are all wearing traditional Māori dress. Text reads, "NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui".
In a black-and-white photograph, a Māori woman speaks into a microphone in front of a crowd. Her fist is raised defiantly in the air. At the top of the image, in small yellow lettering, reads: "THE LAST NEW ZEALAND WAR HAPPENED IN 1979. IT LASTED THREE MINUTES." Below the woman, at the bottom of the image, the text reads in yellow lettering: "THE HAKA PARTY INCIDENT." Below that text is smaller, white text that reads: "A FILM BY KATIE WOLFE."
A mixed crowd with people standing among police officers wearing helmets and masks. The image has a black background with the white title 'Boiling Point, March 2nd'.
Against a black background, a group of opera singers sing. The green text reads: "Toiere."
Side profile of a persons face, silhouetted against a setting sun out of frame. Text reads, "Imposter".
A school of fish swim together in the ocean. The text reads "Turning the Tide"
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 podcast cover for "The Aotearoa History Show" features the title written in colorful, chalk-like letters on a blackboard background. The words "THE" and "AOTEAROA" are in light blue, "HISTORY" is in pink, and "SHOW" is in green with green chalk lines radiating outwards.
A coastal scene of a land mass with cliffs leading down to a beach and the ocean. Text reads, "My Cyclone Gabrielle, Four Filmmakers Four Views".
A portrait of a child looking into the camera. On their head is a collection of blue and green strips of ribbon that intertwine with their long braided hair. They are wearing a blue shirt, a jacket and a bow tie. Text reads, "Loading Docs". Beside the text is a simple graphic circle meant to look like a roll of film.