We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Play

00:00

/

00:00

Full screen
Video quality

Low 0 MB

High 0 MB

HD 0 MB

Captions
Volume
Volume
Hero image for Kaitangata Twitch - First Episode

Kaitangata Twitch - First Episode

Television (Full Length Episode) – 2010

This multi award-winning series follows 12-year-old Meredith, who sees eerie visions as a Governors Bay island is drilled for mining. The Māori Television series was adapted from a Margaret Mahy novel by longtime collaborator Yvonne Mackay. Mahy makes a rainbow-wigged cameo in this episode where the locals protest a subdivision, and Meredith apprehends the island's 'twitch'. Newcomer Te Waimarie Kessell stars, with Charles Mesure and George Henare. The mix of the Māori concept of wairua with a willful 21st Century teenage heroine won a Remi Award at Worldfest-Houston 2010.

... according to the legend the cannibal’s spirit was absorbed into the land, and when he’s angry or hungry he [the ahi kaa] comes to life: the so-called ‘Kaitangata Twitch’. It’s freaky eh!
– Meredith’s Dad (Charles Mesure) reads local history for the bedtime story

If you liked this, you might also like...

Thumbnail image for Kaitangata Twitch
Series

Kaitangata Twitch

Kaitangata Twitch follows the adventures of a...

Thumbnail image for Maddigan's Quest - First Episode

Maddigan's Quest - First Episode

Another Margaret Mahy adaptation with a young female lead

Thumbnail image for Whale Rider

Whale Rider

Another determined young female Māori protagonist

Thumbnail image for Strangers - Full Series

Strangers - Full Series

Another magical kids drama written by Margaret Mahy

Thumbnail image for Hard Out - Full Series

Hard Out - Full Series

Another anti-development teen who can see the truth

Thumbnail image for Under the Mountain
Series

Under the Mountain

More supernatural island trouble

Thumbnail image for The Haunting of Barney Palmer

The Haunting of Barney Palmer

Another Margaret Mahy/Yvonne Mackay collaboration

Thumbnail image for Nia's Extra Ordinary Life
Series

Nia's Extra Ordinary Life

Another show with a girl in the main role

Thumbnail image for Mataku
Series

Mataku

More Māori spiritual stories modernised

Thumbnail image for The Changeover

The Changeover

Another Margaret Mahy fantasy

Thumbnail image for A Tall Long Faced Tale

A Tall Long Faced Tale

More from Margaret Mahy and director Yvonne Mackay

Thumbnail image for The Island

The Island

Kids go on another island adventure

Thumbnail image for Woolly Valley
Series

Woolly Valley

Margaret Mahy was also a writer on this

Thumbnail image for The Governor 1 - The Reverend Traitor (First Episode)

The Governor 1 - The Reverend Traitor (First Episode)

Also stars George Henare

Thumbnail image for Typhon's People

Typhon's People

Another Margaret Mahy/Yvonne Mackay collaboration

Thumbnail image for Cuckoo Land - The Neighbour (Episode Two)

Cuckoo Land - The Neighbour (Episode Two)

Another Margaret Mahy/Yvonne Mackay TV drama

Thumbnail image for The Silent One

The Silent One

A classic children's drama directed by Yvonne Mackay

Thumbnail image for Tales of the Mist - The Girl in the Cabbage Tree

Tales of the Mist - The Girl in the Cabbage Tree

More supernatural kids TV

Thumbnail image for Voices of the Land: Ngā Reo o te Whenua

Voices of the Land: Ngā Reo o te Whenua

Documentary on composer Richard Nunns

Thumbnail image for Nutcase

Nutcase

More pesky kids

Thumbnail image for The Z-Nail Gang

The Z-Nail Gang

More fictional battles against development

Thumbnail image for Turangawaewae - A Place to Stand

Turangawaewae - A Place to Stand

Another exploration of tapu places

Thumbnail image for William Shatner's A Twist in the Tale: A Crack in Time

William Shatner's A Twist in the Tale: A Crack in Time

Another adventure show

Thumbnail image for William Shatner's A Twist in the Tale: Obsession in August

William Shatner's A Twist in the Tale: Obsession in August

Another kidult drama edited by Paul Sutorius

Thumbnail image for Freaky - First Episode

Freaky - First Episode

More out of this world tales

Thumbnail image for So This Happened - Bekah and Marama

So This Happened - Bekah and Marama

A Kiwi girl tells a tale of discrimination

Thumbnail image for Made in New Zealand - Margaret Mahy

Made in New Zealand - Margaret Mahy

Documentary about writer Margaret Mahy

Thumbnail image for Alex

Alex

Another rite-of-passage story about a young woman

Thumbnail image for White Lies

White Lies

Te Waimarie Kessell also acted in this movie

Thumbnail image for Nia's Extra Ordinary Life  - Series One

Nia's Extra Ordinary Life - Series One

Another show with a girl in the main role