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Profile image for Tainui Stephens

Tainui Stephens

Producer, Director, Presenter [Te Rarawa]

Tainui Stephens is a Kiwi screen taonga. Since joining Koha as a reporter in 1984, he has brought many Māori stories to television, and worked on everything from Marae to Māori Television's version of It's in the Bag. Among the notable documentaries he has directed are Māori Battalion doco March to Victory and award-winning show The New Zealand Wars. He was a producer on Vincent Ward film Rain of the Children.

...for Māori New Zealanders to use their language to express their thoughts and pedigree is not a matter of idealism, it's a way of making our lives better; it's a way of enshrining a better future for our kids. Tainui Stephens on the importance of Māori broadcasting, Onfilm, November 2003

Thumbnail image for Tainui Stephens: Foremost Māori broadcaster...
Interview

Tainui Stephens: Foremost Māori broadcaster...

Interview, 2009

Thumbnail image for RNZ Interview: Mai Time - Stacey Morrison & Tainui Stephens
Interview

RNZ Interview: Mai Time - Stacey Morrison & Tainui Stephens

Interview, 2022

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Whina

2022, Producer - Film

Thumbnail image for Making New Zealand - Broadcasting

Making New Zealand - Broadcasting

2019, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for NZ On Air 30th Birthday - Billy T James

NZ On Air 30th Birthday - Billy T James

2019, Subject - Web

Thumbnail image for NZ On Air 30th Birthday -  The New Zealand Wars

NZ On Air 30th Birthday - The New Zealand Wars

2019, Director - The NZ Wars - Web

Thumbnail image for My Party Song

My Party Song

2018, Director, Writer, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for My Party Song - First Episode

My Party Song - First Episode

2017, Producer, Co-Director, Writer - Television

Thumbnail image for Hautoa Mā! The Rise of Māori Cinema

Hautoa Mā! The Rise of Māori Cinema

2016, Writer, Producer, Subject, Sound Recordist - Television

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The Dead Lands

2014, Co-Producer - Film

Thumbnail image for It's in the Bag - Masterton (Series Five, Episode 12)

It's in the Bag - Masterton (Series Five, Episode 12)

2013, Outside Broadcast Director, Narrator - Television

Thumbnail image for It's in the Bag - Ohakune (Series Five, Episode Three)

It's in the Bag - Ohakune (Series Five, Episode Three)

2013, Outside Broadcast Director - Television

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The Prophets

2013, Director, Writer - Television

Thumbnail image for The Prophets - Episode Two

The Prophets - Episode Two

2013, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for The Prophets - First Episode

The Prophets - First Episode

2013, Writer, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for It's in the Bag - Opunake (Series Four, Episode Six)

It's in the Bag - Opunake (Series Four, Episode Six)

2012, Outside Broadcast Director, Narrator - Television

Thumbnail image for It's in the Bag - Waimamaku (Series Four, Episode Four)

It's in the Bag - Waimamaku (Series Four, Episode Four)

2012, Outside Broadcast Director, Narrator - Television

Thumbnail image for 50 Years of New Zealand Television: 7 - Taonga TV

50 Years of New Zealand Television: 7 - Taonga TV

2010, Director, Narrator - Television

Thumbnail image for It's in the Bag (Māori Television)

It's in the Bag (Māori Television)

2011 - 2013, Director, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Barry Barclay: The Camera on the Shore

Barry Barclay: The Camera on the Shore

2009, Subject - Film

Thumbnail image for The Strength of Water

The Strength of Water

2009, Associate Producer - Film

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Let My Whakapapa Speak

2008, Director, Writer - Television

Thumbnail image for Rain of the Children

Rain of the Children

2008, Producer - Film

Thumbnail image for Mai Time - Final Episode

Mai Time - Final Episode

2007, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for 2006 Māori Television Anzac Day Coverage - Nā Rātou, Mō Tātou

2006 Māori Television Anzac Day Coverage - Nā Rātou, Mō Tātou

2006, Commentator - Television

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Hunting Aotearoa

2005 - 2007, Executive Producer - Television

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River Queen

2005, Co-Producer - Film

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Monte Cassino - 60 Years On

2004, Executive Producer - Television

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The Last Laugh

2002, Te Kai Urungi - Television

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The Hill

2002, Director - Short Film

Thumbnail image for The Sir Howard Morrison Story

The Sir Howard Morrison Story

2002, Kai Urungi - Television

Thumbnail image for Von Tempsky's Ghost

Von Tempsky's Ghost

2002, Māori Advisor - Television

Thumbnail image for Captain's Log

Captain's Log

2001, Kai Hautu - Television

Thumbnail image for Mai FM - It's Cool to Kōrero

Mai FM - It's Cool to Kōrero

1999, Presenter - Television

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The Family

1999, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for The New Zealand Wars 1 - The War that Britain Lost (First Episode)

The New Zealand Wars 1 - The War that Britain Lost (First Episode)

1998, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for The New Zealand Wars 2 - Kings and Empires (Episode Two)

The New Zealand Wars 2 - Kings and Empires (Episode Two)

1998, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for The New Zealand Wars 3 - The Invasion of the Waikato (Episode Three)

The New Zealand Wars 3 - The Invasion of the Waikato (Episode Three)

1998, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for The New Zealand Wars 4 - Taranaki Prophets (Episode Four)

The New Zealand Wars 4 - Taranaki Prophets (Episode Four)

1998, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for The New Zealand Wars 5 - The East Coast Wars (Episode Five)

The New Zealand Wars 5 - The East Coast Wars (Episode Five)

1998, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Mai Time - Bloopers 1998

Mai Time - Bloopers 1998

1998, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Rangatira: Merata Mita - Making Waves

Rangatira: Merata Mita - Making Waves

1998, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for The New Zealand Wars

The New Zealand Wars

1998, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Rangatira: Pita Sharples

Rangatira: Pita Sharples

1997, Narrator - Television

Thumbnail image for Mai Time - Hirini Melbourne interview (excerpt)

Mai Time - Hirini Melbourne interview (excerpt)

1997, Producer - Television

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Icon in B Minor

1996, Director, Producer - Television

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Mai Time

1994 - 2000, Producer, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Marae - John O'Shea on Tangata Whenua

Marae - John O'Shea on Tangata Whenua

1993, Executive Producer - Television

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Marae

1992 - 1997, Director, Producer, Executive Producer, Presenter, Reporter - Television

Thumbnail image for Māori Battalion - March to Victory

Māori Battalion - March to Victory

1990, Director, Writer, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for When the Haka Became Boogie

When the Haka Became Boogie

1990, Director, Producer, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for When the Haka Became Boogie - The Musos (Episode Four)

When the Haka Became Boogie - The Musos (Episode Four)

1990, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for When the Haka Became Boogie - The Showbands (Episode Two)

When the Haka Became Boogie - The Showbands (Episode Two)

1990, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for When the Haka Became Boogie - The Singers (Episode Five)

When the Haka Became Boogie - The Singers (Episode Five)

1990, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Koha - 10 Years of Koha (Final)

Koha - 10 Years of Koha (Final)

1989, Director, Writer - Television

Thumbnail image for Rere Ki Uta, Rere Ki Tai (The Journey)

Rere Ki Uta, Rere Ki Tai (The Journey)

1988, Director, Writer - Short Film

Thumbnail image for Waka Huia - Hirini Melbourne & Te Puka a Maui

Waka Huia - Hirini Melbourne & Te Puka a Maui

1987, Studio Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Waka Huia - First Episode

Waka Huia - First Episode

1987, Studio Director - Television

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Weekend

1986 , Director - Television

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Koha

1984 - 1988, Research, Director, Producer, Writer - Television

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Kaleidoscope

1985, Director, Reporter - Television