Moana Reo Media Fund

Fasi Everybody! - Plus64

"Fasi EVERYBODY!" is a digital comedy series about two social workers, played by Simeon UceGang Fiapule and Chris Alosio, who pose as undercover cops to stop crime in Auckland, with one of them secretly being the actual criminal. The series is entirely in Samoan, written and voiced by Mike Unasa (HHODS), and directed by Danny Aumua. The plan is to film six 8-minute episodes in June 2026, with an August/September 2026 release on UceGang's YouTube channel and Plus64's social media.

Ta Leqa (Level up your vosa) - Tiny Fijian Films

"Ta Leqa: Level Up Your Vosa" is a vibrant, relatable web series set in West Auckland where a group of Fijian teens and young adults try to reconnect with their roots through a series of funny, chaotic, and emotional “challenges” that test their language, culture, and identity. Through short skits and interactive weekly language missions on TikTok and Instagram, the show turns everyday situations into Fijian language learning moments but with a twist: it’s done in the voice of young people themselves. Think language challenges, slang battles, awkward family lunches and TikToks gone wrong - all wrapped in a Fijian diaspora coming-of-age story.

Close to Home - Create08

"Close to Home" is a 5-part vodcast series targeting young Pacific audiences in Aotearoa, aiming to reconnect them with their language and identity. It features well-known Pacific athletes, artists, and creatives sharing personal stories about their language journeys, hosted by Hanalei Temese-Foliaki. Each 12-minute episode will be filmed in Auckland homes with a studio-style setup and distributed on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, with short-form clips to promote engagement. The series emphasizes that every step towards reo (language) is a step towards knowing oneself, and that fluency isn't the only measure of pride.

Tupulaga Tokelau: Behind the Festival - Mafutaga Tupulaga Tokelau i Aukilani

"Tupulaga Tokelau: Behind the Festival" is a bilingual youth-led docu-series that follows Tokelauan youth as they document their journey to the Tokelau Easter Festival 2026. Filmed across six regions in Aotearoa with 70% of content in Gagana Tokelau, the series explores identity through faith, fatele, food, sport, and language—told entirely through youth eyes.This initiative is both a creative expression and a cultural strategy—preserving Gagana Tokelau while equipping the next generation with digital storytelling skills.

WARM PACIFIC SINGLES x TALK TO TINGLE - M2S1 Films

"Warm Pacific Singles x Talk to Tingle" is a proposed online dating game show series for the PMN platform, targeting Pacific youth under 35. Each of the five 10-minute episodes will be dedicated to a specific Pacific language (Kūki 'Airani, Tuvaluan, Samoan, Niuean, and Tongan), with all participants speaking only in that language. The show aims to revitalize and preserve these languages by presenting them in a fun and engaging way, showcasing their romantic nuances. In each episode, a "Single" contestant will question four "Hopeful" contestants without seeing them, choosing the one who makes them "tingle." All episodes will be released simultaneously and will have English subtitles.

Tamariki Kanga - Kuki Learning Ltd.

"Tamariki Kanga" is a vibrant, bilingual media series that introduces Cook Islands Māori language and culture to young children in Aotearoa. Aimed at tamariki, whānau, and early childhood educators, each 10-minute episode explores simple themes like numbers, colours, and everyday objects—entirely in Cook Islands Māori with English subtitles. Inspired by shows like Suzy’s World and The Wiggles, the series combines fun, play-based learning with cultural storytelling, giving visibility to an underrepresented language in early childhood education.

Serataki noqu vosa – Fijian Hymns Reimagined - Elizabeth Koroivulaono

"Serataki Noqu Vosa" is an acoustic music video series aiming to preserve and teach the Fijian language to the New Zealand Fijian diaspora youth. The series will feature five cinematic performances of Fijian hymns with subtitles in both Fijian and English, followed by an "Elder Talanoa" segment where an elder explains the hymn's meaning and shares cultural stories. Language learning will be supported through line-by-line translations, vocabulary tips, and downloadable lyric sheets and worksheets.

Pasifika Proud - Lea Faka-Tonga - Fua Creative Limited

Fua Creative's "Pasifika Proud - Lea Faka-Tonga" project aims to expand its digital educational content, which teaches Pacific language and culture through dance and language, to a national audience. Building on successful pilot initiatives in the South Island, this project will produce eight learning videos in Lea Faka-Tonga, featuring original music, scripted content, dance, and high-quality video production. The videos are designed to engage children, teaching Tongan language through songs, phrases, cultural insights, and movement.

Manava Toku Leo - Pacific Vision Aotearoa Trust

"Manava Toku Leo" is a four-part vodcast series focusing on Tuvalu communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and their experiences with climate change. The series features 16 people from each of the eight Tuvalu motu, highlighting their specific languages and dialects. The discussions cover topics from climate change to climate resilience, including preparing for severe weather and personal reflections on current and future climate impacts.

ASMR Vagahau - ONZ Limited

"ASMR Vagahau Niue" video series designed to revitalize the Niuean language. The series will be published on YouTube and TikTok, targeting Niuean youth, beginner speakers, and families, with additional audiences including Pasifika language advocates and teachers.he project's vision is to make language learning a calm, engaging, and enjoyable part of everyday life, shared across generations through culturally immersive and sensory experiences. Its mission is to create bilingual ASMR content that promotes the everyday use of Vagahau Niue, encourages youth engagement, and strengthens intergenerational ties.

Atafu Centennial Aotearoa Journey - Atafu Tokelau Community Group Inc

"Atafu 100 Years Project," an initiative by the Atafu Tokelau Community Group to commemorate 100 years since Atafu came under New Zealand administration in 2026. The project aims to produce a documentary and companion publication that capture Atafu's journey, resilience, migration to Aotearoa, contributions of ancestors, and future aspirations.

Southside Gardens - Nine Islands Media

"Southside Gardens," a 5-part video series celebrating the backyard gardens of Pasifika families in South Auckland. Each 5-minute episode will focus on a specific Pacific culture, language, place, and story, showcasing gardens bursting with Pacific flora. The series aims for a minimum of 75% Pacific languages, with English subtitles for accessibility. Addresses food security, promotes self-sufficiency, facilitates intergenerational knowledge sharing, encourages healthy lifestyles, and explores the history and role of Pacific people in Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Pasifika Extended Play - Island Vibes LTD

Island Vibes, a nine-piece multicultural Pasifika band from Auckland, was founded in April 2023. They celebrate Pasifika heritage through music and have performed over 70 professional shows across Aotearoa, as well as in Samoa and Niue. In 2025, they released four original songs and music videos, collaborated with two emerging artists, and gained recognition at the Auckland Arts Festival and Auckland Live Cabaret Festival. Island Vibes is set to release their first Extended Play (EP) featuring four original songs in Vagahau Niue, Gagana Samoa, and Lea-Faka Tonga, and will produce two music videos. This project is supported by the Moana Reo Media Fund and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, who will have exclusive rights to use the new music on their platforms.

TUPU ma OLA - Tree

"Tupuola" a 4-track visual EP created in Gagana Samoa (the Samoan language) by artist Katerina "Tree" Manu. "Tree" Manu has a proven track record of successful releases with millions of streams. The project will be primarily distributed on pmn.co.nz, with secondary platforms including YouTube and Spotify, and additional public screenings. The production schedule spans five months, from December 2025 to April 2026. The document emphasizes that "Tupuola" is an educational and cultural experience designed to promote and preserve Samoan language, culture, and traditions.

Tā Mē - The Revival! - Leki Jackson-Bourke

"TaMe - The Revival," a project seeking funding from the Moana Reo Fund to create and record four original Niue Lologo Tā Mē (traditional dance) songs. The goal is to revitalize, celebrate, and preserve the Niuean language and cultural expression by blending traditional forms with contemporary practice, aiming to "make Niue Cool again. The inspiration for this project is Hon. Young Vivian, former Premier of Niue, who advocated for maintaining Vagahau Niue through song and dance. The Tā Mē is Niue's national dance, similar to other Pacific island dances, and its actions are choreographed to the song's message. The project addresses the observation that Niuean youth in Aotearoa NZ are increasingly dancing other Pacific island dances instead of Tā Mē due to limited capacity for live singing, a scarcity of recorded Tā Mē tracks, and a lack of professionally recorded songs by Niuean artists specializing in this genre.

Koloa Tukufakaholo (Legacy) - Swiss

"Koloa Tukufakaholo" project, a 4-track visual EP created entirely in lea fakatonga (Tongan language) to celebrate and preserve Tongan language and heritage. Led by award-winning Tongan artist Swiss (Pepa Manu) and his father, Sione Manu, a respected Tongan composer, the project fuses traditional storytelling with contemporary music and visuals that incorporate Tongan art forms. The primary goals are to champion the Tongan language, revive traditional Tongan art forms, involve Tongan youth and cultural leaders, and deliver high-quality, accessible content. The project aims to serve as a vehicle for preserving lea fakatonga and revitalizing Tongan creative art forms, fostering community bonds, and intergenerational knowledge.

Tangi Reo – The Cry of the Language - William Hakaoro

"Tangi Reo – The Cry of the Language" is a powerful and personal music project led by cultural advocate and songwriter William Hakaoro, aimed at revitalising Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Airani. Building on Hakaoro’s long-standing commitment to language and cultural storytelling, the project will produce a 4-track EP and a music video. It is a collaborative effort with Tupou Fynest—a respected Cook Islands music group—featuring Mama Taia, Henry Tupou, and Emanuel Tupou, blending generational talents and cultural expertise.

PINE PĒ - Rizván

"Pine Pe" by Tongan rapper Rizván Tu'itahi. The project's title means "just hang in there" or "keep going." Rizván, who has been releasing music since 2002, will be the lead vocalist. The production will be handled by BeNZa (Niuean/Cook Island/Samoan descent), and Matavai Taulanga'ū will manage the visual elements, including two music videos and promotional content.

Measina Moana Reo - Tikilounge Productions

"Measina Moana Reo" is a 7-part documentary series focusing on the passing down of Pacific ancestral knowledge and language through cultural practices. Each 8-minute episode highlights intergenerational cultural exchanges between master makers and learners, often family members, showcasing how language is embedded in crafts like siapo, fakahau Niue chants, fale building, and kolose (Tuvaluan crochet). The project is led by a young team of Pasifika creatives mentored by master artists and established practitioners, contributing to youth capability building in the Pacific creative sector. The series will feature cultural knowledge from various Pacific Islands, including Niue, Samoa, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Tonga, Tokelau.