Te Ao Kapurangi (Warrior Woman)

Short Film (Full Length) – 2001

Mature

This short film draws on a key incident in the life of Te Ao-kapurangi, a woman of mana for Te Arawa's people. In the late nineteenth century, Aotearoa was in the grip of a 'musket war'; firearms were having a devastating effect in tribal battles. Hongi, a Ngāpuhi chief, leads a well-armed assault on a rival Te Arawa tribe. Te Ao-kapurangi (Stephanie Grace) challenges Hongi and uses her wits, not a gun, to save her people. Invited to prestigious French festival Clermont-Ferrand, the film marked a rare drama directing credit for the late Tama Poata, writer of landmark Māori film Ngāti.

We have faced your weapons of fire, Hongi. It is you who fear to fight face to face.
– Female warrior Te-Ao-kapurangi (Stephanie Grace) challenges Hongi (Lawrence Wharerau)