Tame Iti - The Man Behind the Moko

This documentary presents insight into the man most New Zealanders know as the Māori radical with a moko. Delving beyond the sensational headlines, it presents Tame Iti in the context of his whānau and beliefs. Iti tells his own story: from growing up in his beloved Urewera, and his role in organisation Ngā Tamatoa, to heroes (Rua Kenana, Che Guevara), moko, match-making and a late-starting art career. Iti’s children reflect on an activist father who “is a kid at heart”. Chelsea Winstanley's documentary screened on TV2, before Iti’s arrest during the infamous 2007 ‘Urewera raids’.

… I think that the majority of the people in this country, particularly Pākēha and Māori too, well they view me from split second images, six o’clock news TV1, TV3, it’s all crap. They got it wrong, I’m a nice guy, yeah true, I’m a pussycat…

– Tame Iti

Key Cast & Crew

Desray Armstrong

Producer

Chelsea Winstanley

Co-Producer, Camera, Director

Tame Iti

Subject

Mike Weston

Composer

John Renata

Camera

Richard Cooper

Camera