Moana Reo Media Fund 2024

SIGNATURE PROJECT

Nine Islands Media: Digital Traditions: Pasifika in the Social Media Age Digital transitions. Explores how Pasifika communities across four different nations are navigating the intersection of tradition and technology in the modern world. A 44-min documentary delves into the ways social media is reshaping cultural practices, identity and values, offering an intimate look at how these communities maintain or adapt their heritage in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

YOUTH AUDIENCE

Kau Fefine Fakana'ana'a Trust: Pikipiki Hama Kae Vaevae Manava Vodcast Project invites 10 Tongan young people to join the Pikipiki Hama Kae Vaevae Manava vodcast project with a grandparent. Together they will visually/orally share stories, filmed in an interview/talanao or TED talk style but inclusive of song, dance, poetry, oratory.

Poporazzi Productions: Pacific Language Weeks Video Journals 2025. Creating impactful short-form video resources for Pacific Language Weeks 2025. Poporazzi will produce a daily video diary for the first five language weeks, 7x 2-minute videos per week. Each video, tailored for schools and online learning, teaches 10 essential phrases or commands to support Pacific language learning.

Centre for Pacific Languages: Poly Will & Grace. A vodcast that delves into the daily highs and lows of being Pasifika and disabled in Aotearoa. William Sangster, a proud Tongan living with cerebral palsy, shares his experiences alongside his Samoan co-host, Grace Fiavaai.

SixOneNine Tapui LTD: Nena Pou. A digital education project aiming to preserve and promot vagahau Niue. A dynamic multi-lingual YouTube channelg will offer engaging educational content for Niuean speakers and learners. Funding will support the development of weekly content from language lessons, cultural stories, traditional practices, interactive activities and guest features.

Four and Five Films: Sonic Sands: Shaka in Samoa. Sonic Sands: Shaka in Samoa. A 30min documentary following the trailblazing DJ and music producer Lady Shaka. It follows Lady Shaka back to the place of her ancestral origins to connect with aspiring musicians, enabling them to make music on and for the world stage.

DIVERSE PROJECTS

Island Vibes LTD: Musika Malie. Songwriting and workshopping 6 new songs (2 vagahau Niue, 2 lea faka Tonga and 2 gagana Samoa), including 3 music videos (one for each language).

Taro Patch Creative: Roots of Resilience. Indigenous self-care practices from the Pacific. A 10-episode vodcast exploring the vital role of indigenous self-care practices in nurturing the wellbeing of Pacific people. Bilingual and fluent speakers hosting episodes looking into traditional wisdom and modern applications of self-care rituals.

ANONYMOUZ: Lāuga: Fa'asaāmoa vs Hip Hop. A short film portraying an imagined battle between a traditional samoa orator and a hip hop battle rapper - it will showcase the similarities between practices with intricately constructed language used to outdo ones opponent through lyrical exchanges.

Isoa Kavakimotu & +64 Studios: Ana's Kitchen. A scripted comedy series about a Tongan family and their catering business as they struggle their way to their biggest challenge yet - a dinner party for a member of the Tongan Royal family. Written by Isoa Kavakimotu & Tama Farani. Produced by Danny Aumua for +64 Studios.

Anna Tukuitoga: Legacy Project: Tau Lologo Niue. The rebirth of a generation lost in translation: 20 year old Commercial Music student Annafinau Tukuitonga capturing a song book of her Nana's favourite Niuean songs. Now in a rest home living with dementia, the only way Anna and her Nana can communicate is through the connection they have with her Nana's Niue chants - bringing together their love of the moana after losing their grandfather to the ocean. The project will capture the music that has anchored them thorugh some of life's biggest obstacles.

Studio Kiin: Pūlotu. A three-part documentary series exploring the role of indeigenous Pacific performing arts in preserving and revitalising language among Tokelauan, Fijian and Uvean communities in Aotearoa. Each episode of 12-15mins will focus on one of these three communities and feature community leaders, cultural performance practices, and highlight key elements relevant to the practices and language of that community.

Tyrun Posimani: NiuEP. A musical and visual project by Tyrun. The project will explore complex themes of Niuean identity, the diaspora and queerness.

Nevertheless Trust: Akama'ara. A docuseries capturing three generations of three different families in the Hawke's Bay (Cook Islands, Tongan and Samoan). In the context of the regions main industries - agriculture, manufacturing, RSE scheme, despite massive contributions, one part of collective Pasifika lives that pays the price for hard work is the loss of ancestors stories. This projects aims to capture those stories.

Rizvan Tu'itahi: Nena Pou. A children's programme exploring the Tongan language using familiar kids songs in a bilingual format. Nena Pou is the main character but supported by the whole family to utilise their skills and abilities to create the videos and share the songs.

Vaiola Creatives: Faletua - The Women Behind The Men. The faletua references the elite status of women who are high ranking chiefs in Samoan society and is also the title given to the wife of a minister. As the Samoan population continues to grow in the diaspora, increased access to western education leading to more women in the workforce, this docuseries will take a fresh look at the beauty of indigenous roles and responsibility of women in Samoan society.