Renowned Filmmaker Tainui Stephens to Launch Career-Spanning Collection Kua Tau: A Life in Stories

Acclaimed filmmaker and broadcaster Tainui Stephens (Te Rarawa) is turning the lens on his own professional journey with the upcoming release of his new collection, Kua Tau: A Life in Stories. The book, which features a curated selection of his writing from E-Tangata, offers a reflective look at Stephens’ five-decade career and the evolving landscape of te ao Māori, Waatea News reports. Scheduled for launch on Thursday, 1 October, at the Māoriland Hub in Ōtaki, the collection explores themes of te reo, tikanga, identity, and leadership. The narrative arc spans from the cultural and political shifts of the 1970s and 1980s through to the present day. Stephens attributes much of his perspective to the influence of kaumātua, marae aunties, activists, and whānau who shaped his understanding of his place within Aotearoa. Stephens’ significant contribution to New Zealand broadcasting began in 1984 at TVNZ, where he served as a reporter for the pioneering Māori programme Koha. Over the following decades, he became a fixture in Māori media as a director, producer, and presenter for landmark productions such as Waka Huia, The New Zealand Wars, and Taumata 3001. According to Waatea News, Stephens views the storyteller as a vessel for the people, carrying the responsibility to give their voices a platform. His influence extends into the feature film industry, with producing credits including Whina, The Dead Lands, and River Queen. Beyond his individual work, Stephens is one of the five founders of the Māoriland Film Festival alongside his wife, Libby Hakaraia. The upcoming launch in Ōtaki brings the project back to the community where the festival has established a global home for Indigenous storytelling. Kua Tau provides a dedicated space for Stephens to reflect on the people and kaupapa that have defined his life’s work.