Ngā Tohu: Signatures

This multi award-winning TV drama follows a whānau taking a claim to the Waitangi tribunal, over plans by a Pākehā neighbour to build a resort on disputed land. Ngā Tohu jumps between the present day and 1839/40, when Māori chiefs were canvassed to support the Treaty of Waitangi and a settler makes an equivocal land deal with Chief Tohu (George Henare). The exploration of the Treaty's evolving kaupapa is effectively humanised by an age-old love story, and it scored multiple drama gongs at 2000's NZ TV Awards. Director Andrew Bancroft wrote the teleplay with playwright Hone Kouka.

...a moving, well-rounded drama exploring a complex situation ... George Henare, Nancy Brunning and Craig Muller put in fine performances as the leads in both periods, moving as easily from the past to present as the script.

– Frances Grant in a NZ Herald review, 30 June 2000

Key Cast & Crew

George Andrews

Producer

Hone Kouka

Writer

Nancy Brunning

As: Keri/Hinewai

George Henare

As: Tai/Tohu

Andrew Bancroft

Director, Writer, Editor

Craig Muller

As: Pete/Arthur