Tawera Productions is an award-winning video and media production company based in Auckland, New Zealand.
We are passionate about telling powerful stories that engage audiences and make a difference
Our professional crew are filmmakers at heart, creating beautiful, thought-provoking and engaging documentaries and films. Whether it’s a single documentary, short doco, a feature film, or a multi-series genuine TV show, we bring our passion and creativity to every project.
We Are Well Known For
Our Film production
Directors
We hold the creative vision throughout the whole process, from pre-production through to the final edit.
Tv shows
As a narrative film and video production company. We create TV Stories that inspire action & prompt discussion.
Film festivals
Our work has been viewed at film festivals across the globe, our objective is to raise awareness and spark conversations
Film awards
Our experienced award winning team of videographers, filmmakers and editors are life-long learners
New Zealand Media, Film & Documentary Company
Production team
Toby Mills
Producer / Director / Interviewer
Moana Maniapoto
Director / Researcher / Interviewer
The Team
Film Makers At Heart
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As: Gary - Television
SHARK IN THE PARK
Shark in the Park was New Zealand’s first urban cop show. In this second season opener, Inspector Flynn (Jeffrey Thomas) and his team face restructuring and cutbacks from HQ, and a gang prospect (Toby Mills) is interrogated about a hit and run.
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As: Hopu Manu - Short Film
Te Pito o Te Henua
An investigator descended from the people of Rapanui (Easter Island) travels back to the homeland of his ancestors to rediscover the history. He calls on the memory of the ancestor Hotu Matua, who returns as a ghost to comment on the environmental degradation of Rapanui, and look for a way forward.
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As: Mata - Short Film
MANANUI
On returning to his marae (home community), Mana finds conflict between traditional values and contemporary reality. He argues that more attention is being paid to honouring and burying the dead than to caring for the living. A suicide brings matters to a head.
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Director, Producer, Camera - Television
Taonga Puoro - A Story of Sound
A series on traditional Maori instruments, their origins, use and spiritual as well as cultural significance. Based on interviews with Richard Nunns and Hirini Melbourne
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Production Manager - Television
Witi Ihimaera
Documentary about Māori writer Witi Ihimaera features him in conversation with filmmaker Merata Mita, traversing his writing career, emphasising the importance of family. Aileen O’Sullivan’s film features a star-studded assemblage of local literature, Keri Hulme, Albert Wendt, Geoff Walker
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Director – Television
An Inside Story
In this 1998 documentary, for TV3’s Inside New Zealand slot, prisoners provide straight-talking descriptions of life on the inside. Collectively rejecting any idea of prison as a soft option, they talk about missing sunlight, how even the staunchest cry, and closing up emotionally
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Director, Associate Producer – Television
The Family
1999, Director, Associate Producer – Television
An urban Maori trust, Te Whanau o Waipareira has developed from modest beginnings as a vegetable selling co-op into the biggest employment and training organization in West Auckland. This documentary by Toby Mills and Aileen O’Sullivan examines its operations
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Co - Director, Producer – Television
Ngā Morehu – End of An Era
Moana Maniapoto and Toby Mills’ documentary series recorded interviews with end-of millennium Māori elders (including Maniapoto’s nan Kaa Rakaupai) in four hour-long episodes. Screened on TVNZ and at French and Finnish film festivals.
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Writer, Producer, Director - Short Film
Te Po Uriuri (The Enveloping Night)
Awatea, a young warrior, is enraged when his lover Te Po, a high-born chief’s daughter, enters an arranged marriage. Retribution is swift and brutal. Set in the late 16th century and based on a Shakespeare sonnet “my love is as a fever, longing still” selected for the Hamburg International Film Festival.
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Co - Director, Producer, Research – Television
He Tohunga Whakairo
This documentary of the late Ngāti Porou master carver follows Harrison, the eldest of 21 children from Ruatoria, who honed his practice while still a student at Te Aute College in Hawke’s Bay, leaving a legacy as one of the finest tohunga whakairo (expert carvers)
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Co - Director, Producer – Television
Syd Jackson: Life and Times of a Fully Fledged Activist
Winner of Best Māori Programme at the 2003 NZ TV Awards, this Ngā Reo episode of the late fighter for Māori, women’s and homosexual rights. The intellectual “warrior” helped put Treaty debate on the agenda, leading Māori activist group Ngā Tamatoa, and rousing Māori activism in the 70’s
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Co - Director, Associate Producer, Second Camera – Television
Black Grace - From Cannon's Creek to Jacob's Pillow
Aileen O’Sullivan’s and Toby Mills’ documentary follows Black Grace as they prepare for an appearance at premier dance festival Jacob’s Pillow, in Massachusetts. Featuring the personal journey of the dance group’s founder, choreographer Neil Ieremia, from the community halls of Porirua to the global stage
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Director, Producer, Camera, Editor, Sound - Film
Wai 262
In 1991 six tribes took a major claim to the Waitangi Tribunal, encompassing everything from intellectual rights to management of indigenous fauna. Law professor David Williams describes Wai 262 as “the most important claim the tribunal is ever going to hear”.
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Co - Director, Editor, Second Camera , Sound - Television
The Island
This documentary looks at the history of the island of Motutaiko, the prominent landmark in the middle of Lake Taupō. Motutaiko is a sacred site for Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Toby Mills and Moana Maniapoto use interviews and island life to examine Motutaiko’s strategic place in Māori history
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Director, Producer - Television
The Bridge Builder
Looks at the life of master waka builder and celestial navigator, Hekenukumai (Hec) Busby,MBE.Itis a profile on 80 year old Hekenukumai Busby; Mastercarver, waka-builder, celestialnavigator and icon of the Pacific.
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Writer, Director, Producer, As: Old Chief, Editor - Television
The Russians are Coming
Aileen O’Sullivan’s and Toby Mills’ documentary follows Black Grace as they prepare for an appearance at premier dance festival Jacob’s Pillow, in Massachusetts. The film also charts the personal journey of the dance group’s founder, choreographer Neil Ieremia, from the community halls of Porirua to the global stage, powered by an unrelenting perfectionism that makes for some heated rehearsal footage. Shortly after the performances shown here, Ieremia fired the entire touring company, rebuilding his vision from scratch. Ken Sparks’ editing won an NZ Screen Award.
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Camera – Film
Te Hono ki Aotearoa
Holland’s National Museum of Ethnology requested to acquire a Māori warcanoe (waka taua) as a permanent exhibit. This resulted in master builderHector Busby being commissioned to craft one. Jan Bieringa’s film looks at thehistory of waka, and follows the project from construction and launch, to thetraining of a Dutch crew and arrival in Holland.
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Producer – Television
Mending the Mākōtuku
World Premier of ‘Mending the Mākōtuku’ to Raetihia documentary on the water contamination, among other issues. Broadly the documentary is about the resilience of small community to band together and step up to help each other when the chips are own and explore the issues that confront many communities in NZ surrounding their natural resources. We heard what you have to say about the water crisis last year and what your reflectionswerea year later. So please, always take up an opportunity to have your say.
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Director – Television
Waka Warriors - First Episode
In this first episode of the 2015 Māori Television series, three rangitahi answer Facebook call for sailors who are up for reconnecting with nature and their culture, on a six week waka journey circumnavigating the North Island. Jeez, that was a bit of a waste of time: just should’ve tipped the food straight over the side and we wouldn’t have had to wash the plate!–Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr on one of the crew getting seasick
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ongoing, Camera - Television
Te Ao with Moana
A weekly current affairs show that examines national and international stories through a Māori lens. On demand globally. Watch Te Ao with Moana
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Co-Director – Film
Whetū Mārama - Bright Star
Documentary Whetū Mārama – Bright Star tells the story of Sir Hekenukumai Ngaiwi Puhipi — aka ‘Hek’ Busby — and his significance for Māori in reigniting their wayfinding DNA. At age 50 the former bridge builder embraced waka building and traditional Māori navigation.
