He Toi Whakairo
2026Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
A 5:54 short documentary portrait of master carver Sam Hauwaho (Tūhoe, Te Aitanga a Hauiti) made for Te Papa's He Toi Whakairo exhibition - a cinematic study of whakairo, lineage, and the transmission of mātauranga through one of only two protégés of the late Tohunga Rangi Hetet.
Role
Deliverables
- 5:54 short documentary profile for Te Papa's He Toi Whakairo exhibition
- Cinematic documentation of Sam Hauwaho's carving process and teaching legacy
- Exhibition-ready edit tailored to museum visitor flow
- Integration of archival and contemporary material for intergenerational storytelling
- Public-facing digital story for exhibition audiences
Outcome
Delivered a cinematography-led portrait that functions as an interpretive layer within the He Toi Whakairo exhibition (2026–2027), recording an active teaching lineage at a moment of transition and strengthening Māui Studios' standing in culturally grounded artist documentaries for museum contexts.





