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Synopsis

This documentary looks at efforts to restore the mauri (life spirit) of Northland's Lake Omapere, a large fresh water lake — and taonga to the Ngāpuhi people — made toxic by pollution. It is a timely challenge to New Zealand's 100% Pure branding and an argument for kaitiakitanga (guardianship) that respects ecological and spiritual well-being. There is spectacular footage of endangered lake residents, the long-finned eel. Barry Barclay in Onfilm called the film "powerful, sobering" and it screened at the 2008 National Geographic All Roads Film Festival.

Background

A producer’s perspective by Mairi Gunn 06.11.2009

My introduction to Te Ao Māori was complete immersion in mussel fritter and fried bread burgers. We were in Rawene filming a Big Belly Woman music video for the Māori Television show Lips and were fed royally on a deck overlooking the ...

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Credits (9)

 Simon Marler
 Mairi Gunn
 Karen Browne

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Comments (5)

 Shannon Anahera White

Shannon Anahera White

kia ora thank you for adding me nzonsreen...much appreciated and looking forward to seing the stories of Lake Omapere unfolding and more

 Shannon Anahera White

Shannon Anahera White

please keep me informed of our awa, its sad to watch that over the years how quickly it has become polluted again and even worse, its effecting our beautiful harbour now...please keep me informed

 wahine

wahine

Lovely Documentary, Watch it over and over again, Inspires me to be a bloody Environmental scientist or something, Thankyou for the whakaaro, Whakapapa and Manaakitanga, Kia ora to all my whanau on here :)

 Isabel Blundell

Isabel Blundell

I sooo loved this documentary. It reminded of all the trips back North when my dad would reminisce back to his childhood and how they swum, fished and played on the lake. How all the marae depended on the water from the lake. He talked about how the farming and the removing of all the trees around the lake has contributed to it's demise. We would look out at the lake from the fast moving car and think nothing of it until I saw the documentary. I just wept for my people, for this beautiful natural resource so damaged and I would like to thank the people of home for not forgetting and would like to help in some way. Please contact me on facebook. Isabel J Blundell nee Koroi

 Nikora Irimana

Nikora Irimana

some great work here guys very cool

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 The Matariki Collection