Whanau (dvd)

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Whanau is a longitudinal documentary project following the lives of four Maori children born in 2000. In the year 2000 these four special babies were welcomed into four Maori families. The early parts of their lives - from pregnancy to births to preschool - were captured in the first installment of Whanau. The four families shared their dreams, fears and hopes for their babies. Now in a one hour documentary, Whanau revisits those babies and their families, seven years on. The first instalment of Whanau screened on TV3's Inside New Zealand series and won Best Maori Programme at the 2002 NZ Television awards. This documentary is the anticipated follow up installment. So what has happened to the four families since we last saw them? Some have known the highs of success, the stress of unemployment or the excitement of opportunity. All have known the ups and downs of family living. Some have bid welcome to new family members, and others have said farewell. Through it all, how have the four children developed? In this five part documentary we update the families' lives and explore decisions around education and upbringing. We discuss notions of cultural identity and the maintenance of iwi connections, and examine the future aspirations for this cross section of tamariki Maori. Nga Whanau - The Families KaHana Ngawati Ngati Hine/Ngati Porou Renei Ngawati was 19 when she and partner Neil Glassie discovered she was pregnant. After their son KaHana was born they moved in with Renei's parents. Seven years on KaHana is at a primary school in West Auckland, Renei is working full time and studying for her masters degree and Neil lives overseas. Despite an unplanned teenage pregnancy, Renei has spent the last seven years pursuing academic and professional success, as well as the joys of motherhood. "Your baby isn't the thing that stops you. It's your own attitude that will stop you" she says. But whose support has enabled Renei to juggle everything? And what sacrifices has she made in KaHana's upbringing? Koare Hudson Whakatohea/ Ngati Maniapoto/Ngati Pikiao/ Ngati Rarua A whirlwind romance culminated in the birth of Koare Hudson in 2000. His parents Brandi and Maui Hudson met, married and had Koare - all in one year. Have things slowed down for them since? Not at all. Brandi and Maui have had two more children, relocated the family from Auckland to Rotorua and worked steadily for professional success. When we first met them, Brandi was determined not to let motherhood interfere with work. Which won the battle for her attention? Koare attended kohanga reo for a time, and was a member of the bi-lingual unit at his Auckland school. Now in Rotorua, he and his siblings, attend a primary school where English is the language of instruction. Brandi and Maui are confident about their decision, "We think that te reo is definitely going to be on their dial, and it'll come when the time is right for them". In Whanau 2000, Brandi and Maui had high hopes for their son - of leadership, athletic and academic achievement. Has young Koare met their expectations? Pianika Ormsby Ngati Ranginui/Ngapuhi/Ngati Kahungunu Travis and Rachel Ormsby welcomed their sixth child with the birth of Pianika - the only girl of the four Whanau babies. Seven years ago Rachel Ormsby cradled her newborn daughter,and asserted "Pianika, you're going to be mummy's last baby. For sure." Was Rachel right? The family buried Pianika's whenua, marked with a kowhai tree, on family land near Tauranga. Seven years later the tree is gone, but nearbystands the Ormsby family home. Since we last saw them, the family has worked hard to realise their dream of returning to their papakainga. Shortly after she was born, Pianika was christened in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Through the upheaval of relocation, has faith remained constant within the family's life? Pianika is the only one of her siblings in Maori medium education. She is currently in the total immersion unit at her primary school. How has the family's decision to take this path for Pianika's education affected her entire whanau? Uenukukopako Angus Ngati Porou/Tuhourangi/ Ngati Whakaue Mereana Maika chose to celebrate the completion of her teaching degree, by having a baby. Her husband Joe Angus was 100% for it, on the condition that this would be their last child. They already had three boys. And so in October 2000, Uenukukopako was born. We last saw the young family living in Kennedy Bay, Coromandel. Mereana was helping her mother at the Kura Kaupapa, and Joe was involved in a range of community activitties. The outdoors, closeness to grandparents and fresh air was good for all. But life in a tiny rural community proved limited, especially in work and education, and the family was forced to make the tough decision to leave the Bay Seven years on we find the family in Levin, outside of Wellington. Joe is the primary caregiver, Mereana works as an education consultant and Uenukukopako is not the youngest child. His brother Te Ohaki was born in 2005. Uenuku attends the kura a iwi in Otaki where all teaching is delivered in the Maori language. With a strongly rooted sense of his taha Maori, why is Uenukukopako grappling with his cultural identity? Adjustment to life in a new community has not been easy for the family. What has been especially hard? Will they pack up and return to Kennedy Bay? "It's been a real privilege that these whanau have welcomed our cameras back into their lives" says Producer/Director Kay Ellmers. "They made a commitment to the project back in 2000 as they could see the value of what we were trying to do, and seven years on they have again been honest, open and generous in sharing their time and personal aspects of their lives. I'm humbled by the trust they have placed in me." Whanau is an important chance to consider how modern Maori are forming their identities. At what stage do children conceive of the notion of 'being Maori'? What does that mean to them? How do they reconcile their other lines of descent? Are their childhood associations with things Maori, positive or negative? By 2051 over half of all New Zealand children will be of Maori or Pacific decent. Whanau provides insight into some aspects of the educational, religious and social upbringings Maori children are having today. The experiences and attitudes they have now, will determine their participation as Maori adult New Zealanders, tomorrow.

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Author's Bio

Producer/Director Kay Ellmers explains there are plans for future instalments as the four children grow. "A project of this nature requires extraordinary tenacity from the programme makers and the participants. I've made a commitment to this project and the four whanau involved have also. So if broadcasters and funders agree we'll definitely bring further updates in the future".

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