Trust struggles to get funding for te reo project

Charitable Trust struggles to get funding for te reo initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 21ST OCTOBER

An acclaimed Arts Trust has cast, crew and location all set to go for a film version of Othello, with a twist - set in New Zealand in 1796, Te Taipo (Othello) is a pakeha living amongst Maori and the feature film will be shot in te reo Maori. With the enduring appeal of Shakespearean media, the novel approach and the importance of sustaining te reo, it should be a no-brainer project – but the funding just hasn’t been forthcoming.

"We have applied to several agencies and funders but the same answer comes back: we don't fund arts /social development / Maori. Because of our approach through the arts to support Maori language and community development we don't fit the "right boxes".

Green has a fantastic cast and crew ready to go, a 17th Maori village to film at, and a brilliant script co-written with Brad Haami.

"We have been to philanthropists, businesses, government - no luck"

Green believes these type of projects will re invigorate te reo with the younger audiences.

"We are only talking about an investment of a few hundred thousand that could inspire similar kaupapa" says Green.

He Waka Eke Noa Charitable Trust knows that te reo Maori is losing speakers and this is the driving force behind the project. An arts trust running eight years, He Waka Eke Noa was set up to provide arts access irrespective of social, economic or geographical isolation.The Trust was recently Awarded 'Best Not for Profit, Northern Region' by the Sustainable Business Network and is a National finalist in the competition.

Recognising how few te reo opportunities there are for arts practitioners, Executive Director Richard Green has combined his love of Shakespeare, his interest in te reo and tikanga and his experience as an educator on the Treaty of Waitangi.

"Othello is a psychological thriller" says Green, "Love, jealously, lust and greed - all those themes remain. The difference is for the TeTaipo version it is in te reo and set entirely in a Maori context".

Green, whose award winning short film 'te Whare' has played in festivals worldwide, is committed to utilising the arts to strengthen te reo. He is stunned to discover the same commitment doesn’t exist with current funding agencies.“It’s a major gap,” says Green.

The project, due to shoot in March, has attracted a lot of interest from industry professionals and Green believes it will get made. "Even if I have to shoot it on my damn handicam!"

ENDS

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