Witi Ihimaera: Roimata Toroa

This documentary accompanies author Witi Ihimaera on a journey with his "townie" daughters to his marae in Waituhi on the East Coast, ahead of the publication of third novel The Matriarch. Ihimaera describes his writing as a type of "tangi to a people and to a life" he experienced growing up around Waituhi in the 1950s — a way of life symbolised by the tears of the toroa (albatross) said to be held deep in greenstone. Jim Moriarty is among those reading from Ihimaera's works. The film is directed by Peter Coates, from Inspiration, his series on New Zealand artists.

Greenstone also has within its depths what we call the ‘roimata toroa’: which is the tears of the albatross. And in those times in the 1970s … 1960s, I could see a whole life disappearing, and to me that seemed to be within these tears of the albatross, right within the greenstone…

– Witi Ihimaera on finding inspiration in his childhood

Key Cast & Crew

Jim Moriarty

Voice actor

Witi Ihimaera

Subject

Peter Coates

Director, Producer

John Carpenter

Sound Recordist

Nathan Gray

Voice actor

Thelma Grabmaier

Voice actor