The voices of two main characters in the Disney animated film Moana say the movie has given Māori and Polynesian culture a place on the international stage.
Rachel House (Ngāti Mutunga/Ngai Tahu) was the voice of Grandmā Tala and is no stranger to the film industry, having featured in successful films including "Whale Rider" and "White Lies."
She says, "Finally we get to see us (Polynesian) in the mainstream media. We would see Elsa but now we see a strong feisty Polynesian wahine-toa staring out at us from every bus, every billboard and the internet for a change, so that's so thrilling for me that our young people get to see that."
In an interview with Te Kāea, House teamed up with Temuera Morrison who is the voice of Chief Tui, answering in his native tongue Temuera said it's an opportunity for the Polynesian culture the navigating knowledge of our ancestors.
“I think the big misconception is that people thought we just floated around and just ended up here by mistake. There were directions given, they knew where to go from Tahiti to Hawaii to Rapanui to Aotearoa. This movie highlights that.”
The Disney film has triumphed for its third straight weekend and has topped the North American box office with US$18.9 million.
Moana is about a brave Polynesian teenage girl who sets out on a mission across the ocean to save her people. Temuera compares the young character to his own daughter.
"My daughter has similarities, hianga (playful), upoko taki-tahi (independent) and a waka ama pro in the making".
House who plays Moana's grandmother also had some personal connection to her characters in the film.
"I'm so lucky we have inspiring kaumatua everywhere. We have so many inspiring women so there was no shortage of inspiration".
