In the living landscape of Te Hākari wetlands, a young woman returns to her ancestral land, and in that returning, remembers.
Named for Hine-te-iwaiwa, the atua (deity) of women's creative arts, childbirth, and the transmission of ancestral knowledge, HINA expresses a journey of reconnection to whenua.
Created by Dolina Wehipeihana (Ngāti Tukorehe) and Louise Pōtiki Bryant (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha), and filmed with Dolina’s daughters on location in the restored Te Hākari wetlands, this film weaves contemporary movement with mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge systems), and personifications of atua wāhine (female deities) Parawhenuamea (atua of fresh-water), Hinerepō (atua of wetlands), and Hinemoana (atua of the ocean).
Inspired by the environmental restoration work of Ngāti Tukorehe on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand, HINA honours the creative feminine strength passed through generations, and the enduring connection between wāhine and whenua (women and land).
Dolina Wehipeihana (Ngāti Tukorehe) is a multifaceted dance artist whose career spans performance, choreography, producing, and arts leadership. Dolina is currently Festival Co-Director at Tāwhiri – the creative force behind the Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts, and Kaiārahi Māori at PANNZ.
Dolina is an advocate for contemporary Indigenous theatre and dance, and through her production company Betsy & Mana Productions produces projects that amplify the voices and experiences of Māori artists. She believes in the connection between arts experiences and hauora (holistic health and wellbeing) and creates opportunities for communities to connect to each other and access the arts through wānanga, theatre, dance, and festivals.
Dolina’s creative background includes dancing nationally and internationally with New Zealand contemporary dance companies and independent artists including Atamira Dance Company, Black Grace, and Touch Compass. Dolina was awarded the 2021 Te Waka Toi award Ngā Tohu Hautūtanga Auaha Toi Making a Difference Award, which recognises leadership and outstanding contribution to the development of new directions in ngā toi Māori.
Louise Pōtiki Bryant is a New Zealand Arts Laureate, an award-winning multi-media artist and a founding member of Atamira Dance Company. She weaves Māori contemporary dance, video art, animation and film to create immersive multi-layered dance performances, video artworks and films. Guided by Kaitiakitaka (guardianship), and Mātauraka Māori (Māori knowledge systems), she aims to embody these values into every creative expression to inspire the care, protection, and regeneration of the whenua (land), moana (ocean), and awa (rivers).
Co-produced and co-directed by Dolina Wehipeihana and Louise Pōtiki Bryant for Betsy & Mana Productions. Starring Tyla Wehipeihana, Dolina Wehipeihana, Huia Rawiri, Kaikōrero, and Dr Aroha Spinks.
