Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is pleased to announce that the production of the groundbreaking new scripted drama series Tangata Pai is now underway in Taranaki and Auckland. The first primetime drama in which 30% of the dialogue will be in te reo Māori to launch on Three and ThreeNow, Tangata Pai is an eight-part series that tells the stories of five people, whose worlds collide when a bomb is detonated at a peaceful Māori protest against a licence to mine a sacred site.
Tangata Pai boasts an impressive lead cast of established actors including Nicola Kāwana (One Lane Bridge, My Life is Murder), Shavaughn Ruakere (The Legend of Baron To’a, Power Rangers: Cosmic Fury), Jayden Daniels (Head High, Whina), Ariāna Osborne (Madam, Millie Lies Low) and Yoson An (Mulan, New Gold Mountain). The series will be shot over a period of six weeks, with filming to take place in both Ngāmotu (New Plymouth) and Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) in October and November.
Warner Bros. Discovery, Senior Director, Content ANZ Matt Barthow says: “We are delighted to have Tangata Pai on the Three and ThreeNow slate. This flagship series exemplifies our commitment to bold, innovative storytelling. By showcasing the rich diversity and resilient spirit of Aotearoa, Tangata Pai embodies our vision for compelling, locally-driven content. With its talented cast and innovative narrative, this series promises a captivating viewing experience that will resonate with audiences. We are so proud to support this important kaupapa”.
The series was created by award-winning writer, director and producer Kiel McNaughton (AMC’s Good Grief, film trilogy Waru, Vai and Kāinga, The Legend of Baron To’a, Princess of Chaos) who also serves as showrunner and director for the series. McNaughton’s creation of Tangata Pai recently granted him selection to participate in an inaugural Showrunners Incubator program, run by a United States-based organization CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment), which saw him join an elite cohort of Asian and Pacific Island television writers who were given exclusive mentorship and real-world training with experienced showrunners from all over the world.
Tangata Pai is produced by Kerry Warkia (Good Grief, Waru, Vai, Kāinga) under her production banner Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Productions (which she founded with McNaughton) and was co-written by McNaughton, Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen (Giving Up The Ghost, Kāinga), Briar Grace Smith (Fishskin Suit, The Price of Water, Cousins) and Hamish Bennett (Bellbird, Uproar). Mereana Hond (Al Jazeera English, AP Television News, ThreeNews), an award-winning international news journalist, is the Poutiaki Reo & Tikanga and Tina McLaren is the Senior Commissioner for Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ overseeing the series. The series is made in partnership with Ngāti Te Whiti and Te Atiawa, through a kāhui of tribal experts and with the support of Te Mangai Paho and NZ On Air.
Discussion about this post