He Paki Taonga i ā Māui | The Treasure of Maui
Television • Education • Web Series
A web based series which includes distinct styles of 9 various Māori illustrators from around New Zealand. It aims to help kids (7-11) understand the importance of taonga (items of signifcance), and inspire them to learn more about Māoritanga, Tīkanga Māori, and Matauranga Māori.
• Creative Direction
• Digital Illustration
• Design for Animation
• Digital Illustration
• Design for Animation
The Brief
The goal is to tell the stories of 18 of the Taonga Māori (historic treasures) which Te Papa Museum care for, as well as involve the tribes affiliated to each item throughout. Where possible, each artist would illustrate stories from their own iwi (tribe) in their unique style.
My Role
I was responsible for defining the creative direction for 4 of the 18 stories. it generally took between 2-3 weeks from ideation to delivery. Using Procreate it was important to have design-to-deliver assets ready to be animated.
STORY 1 OF 4
Heni and the Battle of Gate Pa
Heni Te Kiri Karamu of Ngāti Uenuku-kopako was a descendent of the great tohunga Ngātoroirangi. She was also the daughter of a Māori chief and an Irish whaling ship captain. Heni was at one of New Zealand’s most famous battles where the Māori King’s people had been successful in defeating the British. A letter was written by her to tell their tale.
STORY 2 OF 4
Te Paea and the Ghost Waka
Te Paea Hinerangi – best known as ‘Guide Sophia’, was the principal tourist guide of the famous Pink and White Terraces at Lake Rotomahana. On 10 June 1886, over 60 people safely took shelter in Sophia’s whare at Te Wairoa after a mystical omen foretold a volcanic eruption.
STORY 3 OF 4
Te Kooti & The Great Escape
Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki, from the Ngāti Maru hapū of Rongowhakaata. Te Kooti was a great leader, warrior and artist. He was also a composer of waiata, a ship’s captain. He later became a prophet and wanted to bring peace to his people at a time of war, but first he had to escape from a prison on a faraway island
STORY 4 OF 4
How The Kiwi Lost it's Wing
New Zealand’s national bird is the Kiwi. Although it is endangered and flightless it still holds a lot significance to it’s people. This story tells a mythical tale of how this bird’s sacrifice allowed our native bush to flourish and defines the features of other native birds.
'A modern telling of Te Papa’s historic taonga'
The outcome was a web series of 18 short films of which I illustrated 4. These animated episodes went live on Maori Television for the public to view. It was also converted into an award-winning illustrated book!
