What can I mātakitaki this Matariki weekend?
Jess on June 16, 2025
Looking for something to watch this long weekend? We’ve rounded up nine films for Matariki – a mix of stories to enjoy, reflect, and connect over.
These films were selected because they spotlight Māoridom in some way – whether through the use of te reo Māori, involvement of Māori filmmakers or cast, or their connection to Māori culture and events.
From light-hearted laughs to deeper themes, there’s something here for every age and mood. We’ve included ratings, content warnings, and links to our content breakdowns (in English and some in te reo Māori), so you and your whānau can make the best choice for your weekend.
Shrek/Shrek Kātahi te Korokē (2001)
PG | Low level violence
To get his land back, Shrek agrees to rescue Princess Fiona for the fairytale-hating Lord Farquaad but ends up falling in love with her along the way.
Māoriland Productions, in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, produced Shrek: Kātahi Te Korokē, which had its premiere at the 2025 Māoriland festival. It will be available to Aotearoa audiences on Matariki.
Moments to be mindful of: Some scenes contain low level violence that may unsettle younger viewers, one example is when two characters blow up a frog and a snake like balloons, letting them float up towards the sky. It is implied that they explode, but this is not shown and their deaths will likely go over younger viewers’ heads.
Shrek content breakdown (English)
Red White and Brass (2022)
PG | Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers
Maka, a superfan of the Tongan rugby team, will do whatever it takes to get tickets to the Tonga vs France Rugby World Cup game – even if that means promising to deliver a brass band for the pre-match entertainment.
Only problem is, the band doesn't exist and Maka has four weeks to make one.
Moments to be mindful of: Red, White and Brass is mostly light-hearted with occasional adult themes such as when a character is forced to make an important but tough decision between whānau or the church.
Red, White and Brass content breakdown (English)
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
PG | Violence, coarse language, some scenes may disturb young children
After a rebellious kid, Ricky Baker, and his foster uncle leave their farm and go missing in the wild New Zealand bush, a national manhunt starts to return Ricky to foster care.
Moments to be mindful of: After the sudden death of a character, another character lies over the body, visibly heartbroken. While the death itself is not shown, this scene may be upsetting for viewers, especially those who have experienced a similar loss. There is limited violence in the film however there is some gun violence, bloody injuries and violence against animals. The strongest scenes include a character and his dog are hurt in an attack by a wild boar, and wild boar being killed.
Uproar (2023)
M | Violence and offensive language
Set in 1981 during the Springbok tour protests, a 17-year-old boy finds his voice through drama and activism while struggling with his identity, racism and family expectation. He learns to stand up for himself, his whānau and his future.
Moments to be mindful of: The film includes scenes of police aggression during protests, as well as instances of bullying and physical altercations, reflecting the societal tensions of the 1981 Springbok tour era. While these scenes are emotionally impactful and link to historic events, the violence is not overly graphic.
Uproar content breakdown (English)
The Dark Horse (2017)
M | Violence, offensive language & drug use
The Dark Horse is a true-story drama about Genesis Potini, a well-known chess player living with bipolar who has faced many challenges throughout his life. He finds purpose and healing through mentoring at-risk youth while protecting his nephew from gang life.
Moments to be mindful of: The film includes realistic and emotionally intense violence that reflects the tough circumstances the characters face. It’s not overly graphic, but it supports the serious tone and themes of the story. There is frequent use of offensive language by both children and adults.
The Dark Horse content breakdown (English)
Muru (2022)
M | Violence and offensive language
When an armed raid is launched on the remote Te Urewera community, local Police Sergeant ‘Taffy’ Tāwharau must choose between his job or his people
Moments to be mindful of: Guns, and characters physically fighting, are frequently shown throughout the film. Two particularly strong scenes involve guns. Two characters are violently shot by a sniper, with one being shot in the head. While wounds are not shown, we can see the glass stained with their blood and a motionless dead body shown in the next scene.
Muru content breakdown (English)
Muru content breakdown (Māori)
Māui’s Hook
RP13 | Suicide, offensive language
A young man on a road trip meets members of five grieving families who have lost a loved one to suicide. They share stories, confront trauma and seek healing.
The film explores the deep impact of suicide on whānau and communities, particularly Māori, and aims to break the silence around this issue.
Moments to be mindful of: The film blends fiction and real-life experiences focused on suicide and discusses it in detail. The aim is not to glorify suicide; instead it's made for those whose lives have been affected by it and seeks to raise awareness and encourage open and compassionate conversations.
In interviews, people share the loss of their loved one to suicide and reflect on the impact it has had on them, their whānau and their communities. It is very emotional and could be upsetting for viewers affected by suicide.
Māui’s Hook content breakdown (English)
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
R13 | Violence & offensive language
Three vampires - Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav - struggle with the everyday challenges of modern life, like paying rent, staying on top of chores, solving flatmate issues, and getting into nightclubs. Their routine takes a turn when a documentary crew starts following them.
Moments to be mindful of: What We Do in the Shadows contains frequent depictions of blood, violence, and vampires and werewolves. However, most graphic scenes are followed by humour or have comedic underpinnings, which dampens the weight of the violence.
What We Do in the Shadows (English)
The Dead Lands (2014)
R16 | Graphic violence
A rangatahi Māori named Hongi embarks on a journey into forbidden lands, where he joins forces with a mysterious warrior to avenge his father's death and bring peace to his people's spirits.
Moments to be mindful of: This film includes graphic violence and cruelty, with fight scenes between tribes that result in serious physical injuries to characters and in some cases death. Characters are stabbed with blunt weapons including taiaha or mere – loud cracking noises can be heard, and some blood detail is shown.
The Dead Lands content breakdown (English)
Matariki is a time to gather with whānau, reflect on the past year, and set intentions for the year ahead. These films are a great way to come together and share stories that connect us to our whenua and to each other. So grab some kai, settle in, and enjoy the magic of storytelling through film this Matariki.
If you’re after more films to watch, check out our past blog in the further reading section for more great picks.
Happy viewing!
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