Why Be Māori When You Can Pass for An Italian

Presenter Toi Iti, part Māori and part Pākehā, wrestles with what it means to belong. Troubled by unsettling dreams where his Māori and Pākehā sides are at war with one another, he embarks on a journey to investigate what being Māori means — and whether it would be easier to pass as an Italian. In this documentary produced by Toi and Tipare Iti, Toi travels from Aotearoa to Australia, meeting colourful characters and learning how Māori are depicted in media and society. In a world where Māori are over-represented in negative statistics, Toi tries to figure out for himself why he should be proud of his Māori heritage.

If a minority group only sees negative images of itself around them, then that impacts on their health. Health in the wider sense, which is how Māori see health anyway.

– Dr Sue Abel on the impact of representation in the media

Key Cast & Crew

Paul Casserly

Consultant Director, Writer

Simon Ellis

Cinematographer

Annie Murray

Network Commissioner

Toi Iti

Presenter, Producer, Writer

Tipare Iti

Director, Writer

Sandy Pantall

Editor