Video competition brings history to life

What was the topic of your entry? 

Ko te arohā nui ki ōku tipuna.

My topic was my koro, Te Rei Rangihuna, my great-grandfather’s brother’s son. He was a brave young man. I felt honoured to research his life and privileged to have had the opportunity to visit his memorials and his resting place.

What inspired this topic?

He māmā. Ko te toa me te māia o ōku tīpuna te mea nui. Me whai arohā ahau ki ēnei. Ko rātou te papa, te utu, kia noho here kore tātou.

I was inspired by the stories I had heard about my koro: particularly his life, his upbringing and his willingness to leave everything he knew to take part in a world event that he may never return from. I am in awe of the risks he chose to take, a real life/death situation. 

I am 16 years old. Making a decision as to what to do when I finish school is difficult; however, this pales in comparison to his decision. Imagine having to make a choice where life or death are the only options.

What was involved with producing the film?

Ka mau kē te wehi o te pātai nei! He mahi nui te rangahau, te whakakao kōrero, te whakarite whakaahua, te whakarite kiriata,
te tāpiri hoki i te reo. 

There were hours and hours of looking through video footage and still photos of my trip overseas to Italy with my school Te Kura Mana Māori o Whangaparāoa in 2018.

Researching my whānau included:

• visiting local urupā to look at memorial sites
• going to two different marae at the most western end of Ngāti Porou
• interviewing whānau members
• interviewing local tumuaki from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa Mai i Tawhiti 
• collating photos, whānau photos, photos from the trip to Italy
• scrolling through Māori TV footage to find their interview with me
• taking my own photos of the local places I visited in relation to my koro
• putting all the information together into a short film
• choosing appropriate music
• voicing over and editing.

What did you learn along the way about video production?

He uaua te mahi nei. Taku waimarie he niwha ahau ki te raweke hangarau. Ko taku tino ko ngā mea Āporo.

It was difficult without the right tools. I used an iPhone to capture video and still photo shots. Editing on the iPad was challenging. Sending this information to my email and then loading to either the iPad or a kaiako MacBook had to be coordinated.

Negotiating time to use their laptops had to be taken into consideration. Adding sound to the short film was also challenging.
I used iMovie, which made it easier to put together. Consistency with the sound and the focus in shots and moving images could have been cleaner. I have had excellent learning. 

What did you learn about the Māori Battalion that you didn’t know before?

Ko te whai i ngā tapuwae o ngā mātua tīpuna
e tino kite nei i roto i ēnei momo mahi. Koinā te whakapono o taku kura, Te Kura Mana Māori o Whangaparāoa kia eke ai mātou the rangatahi ki ngā taumata i te ao.

I learned about the other companies, A, B and D, and their whakapapa. About how brave and fierce our tipuna were, evident in the bravery awards secured by many. For example, in my small Iwi of Te Whānau ā Apanui alone, there were three DCMs awarded. 

When we travelled to Italy and visited the urupā, we learned about how our fallen soldiers’ final resting places are cared for. The expression of aroha shown by the Italian people to our tipuna can be seen in the way all of the graves are cared for. 

How did you feel when you came away with the win?

Kāre i whakapono atu i wini ahau.

I was shocked and speechless – and I still am.

What advice would you give students thinking about entering the competition this year?

Mahia te mahi kia ako kātahi. Me arohā nui ki ngā kōrero o ngā pakanga o te ao kārua. Whāia ngā tapuwae o ō mātua tīpuna, wai ka hua wai ka tohu, ko te otinga, ka tākuta koe pēnei i a Tākuta Monty Soutar, ka Tā koe pēnei i a Matua Wira Gardiner, ka whairawa rānei pēnei i ahau, a Manaia Rangihuna.

Go hard, give it your 100 per cent best and use all of the resources available to you; plan and do your research and present the best version of your work that you can. Last of all, do not forget to acknowledge those from who you descend and to thank those who have helped you in your work.

Kia ora.

Enter this year’s competition

The 2020 Ngārimu video competition is now open and closes on Monday 12 October 2020.

It is open to students in Years 7 to 13.

The aim is to produce a video that takes a deeper look at the 28th Māori Battalion.

There are many different ways students might choose to approach this. They might consider choosing a tipuna or member of the Battalion from their rohe and sharing what makes that person special to their community. 

Or they might choose a Battalion company event and look at the significance to their rohe. 

Or they might explore and analyse the Battalion’s effort from a contemporary context.

For more information on 2020 Ngārimu video competition(external link).

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