Wairoa Māori Film Festival 2026

Nau Mai! Haere Mai! Celebrating 21 years of Māori movies on the East Coast, in the heart of the Māori heartland! Across two venues in Nuhaka and Wairoa, the Wairoa Māori Film Festival is back!

Two packed days of Māori, Pasifika and Indigenous moving image art works. One day Kahungunu Screen Hui symposium. "Movies at the Marae" night at the stunning Kahungunu Marae, Nuhaka. A full day of films at the Gaiety Theatre, Wairoa, including our premiere "A Night at the Māori Movies" event with complimentary kai.

Price:
Festival Pass - all inclusive - $50 per person
Kahungunu Screen Hui - $20 per person
Movies at the Marae (Friday & Saturday) - Free
Gaiety Day Screenings - $5 pp (door sales) / $10 day pass (pre-book)
A Night at the Maori Movies Gala Night - $25 per person

Programme:

KAHUNGUNU MARAE, NUHAKA, FRIDAY MAY 29TH 2026

9 am Official Powhiri
10 am to 3 pm Kahungunu Screen Hui
4 pm Around the World Shorts
Opening Night: Movies at the Marae
6 pm Mana Whenua Shorts
8 pm FEATURE: KŌKĀ

KAHUNGUNU MARAE, NUHAKA, SATURDAY MAY 30TH 2026

10 am #Skoden (documentary)
12 pm Meditations on Identity
1.30 pm A Cree Approach (doc)
3 pm Wairua Shorts

GAIETY THEATRE, WAIROA, SATURDAY MAY 30TH 2026

10 am Pacific Shorts
11.30 am Toi Whenua Shorts
1 pm Taiarahia - Te Kākahu Tawhito
4 pm Takatāpui Shorts
Premiere Gala: A Night at the Māori Movies
6 pm Whānau Shorts
7.30 pm Native Noir Shorts
9.30 pm FEATURE: MĀRAMA

Full programme at www.maorimovies.com

All enquiries to maorimovies@gmail.com

Marae stay available on request kahungunumarae@gmail.com (Thursday, Friday and Saturday only)

Please note that Nuhaka and Wairoa are 32 km apart so leave ample time to travel between venues.

A festival of Māori, Pasifika and Indigenous moving image art works.
Ancient Spirits Beckon. To a gathering. To a convergence.
Nau Mai! Nau Mai! Haere Mai!