Who is the ‘Moana’ in your life?

When you reach a milestone, achieve success, face failure, or when you’re at a crossroads in your life, who do you turn to for support?

Many would say it is their mother, grandmother, aunty, older cousin, sister, or a close female figure, related by blood or not.

The navigational heroine of Disney’s Pacific films, Moana, and its newly-released sequel, has become a beacon of confidence and hope for young generations across the globe.

Moana’s character is headstrong, determined, vocal, witty, and family-focused. We watch her grow from a fearless, albeit rebellious, “Disney Princess” to a matai (chief), earning the title of Tautai Moana.

Her story resonates with us, so we feel immense pride and emotional connection to these films.

NiuFm’s The Morning Shack attended the Aotearoa New Zealand premiere of Moana 2 Reo Māori, released simultaneously with its English counterpart in Tāmaki Makaurau this week.

Host Gaby Solomona asked the stars who the “Moanas” were in their lives.

Singer Olivia Foa’i, featured in the film’s soundtrack with her father Opetaia and the Te Vaka band, is the first voice you hear in Moana, with the powerful call, “Tulou”.

“I just got chills at that question,” she responded to Solomona.

“A lot of aunties, my sister. Yes, there are a lot of women in my life that embody that Moana spirit.”

Temuera Morrison, who plays Chief Tui in both the English and Reo Māori versions, fondly recalls moments shared with his mother, Hana Morrison (née Stafford) QSM, who suffered from dementia and a heart condition in her later years.

“My mummy really. We’re all mummy’s boys.

“I’d say, ‘Mum, guess what?’ She goes, ‘What?’ ‘I work in Hollywood!’

“‘Really? You’re just a little brown boy, and I borned you’.

“She was my lady and my Moana.”

Morrison says the movie celebrates many women, particularly those working on Moana 2 and Moana 2 Reo Māori.

Rising musical talent from Waikato, Jaedyn Randell (The Voice, Frozen Reo Māori), fresh off her success on The Voice Australia, reunites with Māori news legend Piripi Taylor (Lion King Reo Māori) to reprise their beloved characters, Moana and Maui.

Esteemed Māori actor Rachel House returns to provide the voice of Gramma Tala in both versions. Awhimai Fraser (Frozen Reo Māori) leaps from Arendelle to Motunui to join the Reo Māori cast as a mysterious new character named Matangi.

Sāmoan actor Rose Matafeo voices Loto, one of Moana’s seafaring crew, and songstress Arihia Cassidy voices the character in Māori. Simea’s character is voiced in English by Hawai’ian rising star Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda and in Te Reo by Ariana Wharewera.

Moana 2 was co-directed by Dana Ledoux Miller, who is of Sāmoan heritage and represents Savai’i all day, along with producers of its reo Māori counterpart, Chelsea Winstanley and Tweedie Waititi, showcasing te mana o te wahine (the women of prestige).

“Definitely my māmā number one. I think she’s absolutely incredible.

“All of the wāhine in my life actually are my nanny, my aunties. They’ve all helped me become who I am today so I’m so grateful for them all.

Fraser pays homage to her “larger than life” namesake, her late Aunty Awhimai.

“She was a huge force of nature, such an advocate for our people, our reo, our culture, and she was also the best singer in my whole life.

“So to bring her name with me in all these wild spaces, and to whakanui i tēnei kiriata (celebrate this film), is an honour. It’s also a moment of, ‘I wish you were here’.”

What would a Poly-film be without some dry humour?

David Fane, who plays the grumpy old farmer Kele in the English version, expressed his admiration for the women in his life.

“One’s gotta be my mum, absolutely. Another one’s gotta be your grandmother,” he tells Solomona.

“They’re doyens. They’ve lived this entire age and formed the world that we are actually lucky to live in.

“And the third woman, I’d say, is probably Mother Mary because none of us have seen her.”

Sounds of the Pacific

One of the creators’ biggest tasks was incorporating a variety of cultural aspects that resonate across the Pacific while also encompassing the individuality of differing islands.

Concerns have been raised about the Moana series being potentially homogenising, Americanising versions of Pacific culture, or commodifying Pacific people.

However, Foa’i said the songwriting and composing process for the sequel allowed for a more authentic representation of Pacific cultures and involved a greater creative commitment from everyone.

“They (creators) were willing to put more trust in us because they knew how the first one went. But it also meant a lot more work. We were there through a lot of the different processes.

“It was originally meant to be a series, then they changed it last minute.

“But I think the key thing is, they did really try to put more Pacific Island culture in there and they really did try to give more moments to dad to write. There are some beautiful songs in there that I feel really sound like our people.”

Moana 2 and Moana 2 Reo Māori are now showing in New Zealand cinemas.