Adventures in Māoriland - Alexander Markey and the Making of Hei Tiki

After being fired from film Under the Southern Cross in the late 1920s, American director Alexander Markey returned to New Zealand to make Hei Tiki. After a rocky shoot, mostly around Taupō, he departed Aotearoa, leaving badwill and fears he'd stolen precious taonga. Inspired partly by Māori legend, Hei Tiki quickly sank on its release in 1935, caught between the days of silents and the new era of talkies. This documentary features Hei Tiki clips and interviews with cast and crew — including male lead Ben Biddle, caterer Margaret Goulding and pioneering cameraman Ted Coubray, who suffered financially from the experience.