Category: Movies Movie- WHETU MARAMA | BRIGHT STAR (4.30pm)

Movie- WHETU MARAMA | BRIGHT STAR (4.30pm)


July 17, 2022

The directors of Whetu Marama will be at this session to introduce the film and answer questions afterwards.


Entry by koha.

For Māori, the canoe underpins our culture. We once built waka/canoes from giant trees and sailed the vast Pacific by the stars. These arts were lost to us for 600 years. Then the stars re-aligned and three men from far flung islands revived our place as the greatest navigators on the planet, a Hawaiian, a Micronesian and Hek Busby, “The Chief” from Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Whetū Mārama – Bright Star is the story of Sir Hekenukumai Ngaiwi Puhipi, aka Hek Busby, and his significance for Māori in rekindling their wayfinding DNA and for all New Zealanders in reclaiming our place as traditional star voyages on the world map. “Toby Mills and Aileen O’Sullivan’s stirring documentary Whetū Mārama – Bright Star depicts this extraordinary journey: Sir Hek’s willingness as a student, bravery as a modern-pioneer waka builder and navigator, and desire to pass on this regathered knowledge to future generations. Story strands are skillfully interwoven via recent interviews, waka hourua voyaging, archival footage and creative dramatic reconstructions.

Whetū Mārama conveys the wairua of Sir Hek, the impassioned individual, and of a committed group of pan-Pacific navigators and their supportive whānau, who together strove to restore an all but lost art of our voyaging Pacific heritage, thereby strengthening our future. Ka mua, ka muri (Walking backwards into the future) indeed!” — Jacob Powell Whetū Mārama – Bright Star is the story of a culture that understands an inner compass. Hek’s voyaging has reconnected his crews with their inbuilt GPS systems and they in turn are teaching and inspiring the next generation, building a bridge back into our past to take us forward into the future.

Director: Aideen O'Sullivan, Toby Mills
Cast: Hekenukumai Busby
Documentary Exempt | 90 mins NZ

Movie screenings are running under the Orange Covid setting with face masks recommended.

Our theatre is inviting; cool in summer, cosy in winter. 2K Digital Projection with Dolby 5.1 Audio.

Our volunteers open the theatre doors and box office 30 minutes before the start time of each session.

Door sales if available from 30 minutes before the start of each session. If you want to check if seats are available phone 825 0023, from 30 minutes before the start of each session.

Due to our small capacity we recommend that reserves are made using the web reservation system as shown below.

There are no allocated seats. Arrive early to get the seat that's right for you from our eclectic collection of couches, reception and other chairs.

There is a café with juice, Bundaberg drinks, popcorn plus yummy food on sale. Most sessions are licensed with wine, cider and beer available.

Pay at the door by cash or EFTPOS.

The office is open Mondays to Fridays from 10am to 2pm for pre-purchase of tickets or to pay for reserves.

We accept online reserve requests up to about 1 pm on the day of screening provided the session isn't already full.

Online reserves are available for payment from 30 minutes before the start of a session to 15 minutes before the start.

From 15 minutes before the start they will be resold if the session is full.

Whare o Tuaiwa Rickard | Eva's Room at the Old School
5 Stewart St
Raglan, Coastal Waikato 3225
New Zealand
078250023

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Online ticket sales for this event are closed.