E Tipu E Rea - Eel

A teenage boy (Lance Wharewaka) should be at school, but instead learns about the bush and the old days from his ailing grand uncle (Bill Tawhai). The friendship prepares the boy with the necessary skills for life. Written by poet Hone Tuwhare, Eel marked the drama directing debut of TV3 newsreader and Wild South presenter Joanna Paul."He [Bill] brought a mana with him and has such irreplaceable Māori knowledge," said Paul, who remembered him discussing "how he used bobs to catch eels. He remembers using flax — you can't buy knowledge like that."

Hawrey Kirei is my best friend. We're mates. He teaches me everything I need to know.

– Tame (Lance Wharewaka)

Key Cast & Crew

Joanna Paul-Robie

Director

Larry Parr

Producer

Hone Tuwhare

Writer

Joe Kingsnorth

As: Mr Richardson

Paki Cherrington

As: Tiare

Ken Blackburn

As: Mr Hodsworth