Lawrence Wharerau from the Film Archive

In the late 1930s Waikato leader Te Puea Herangi had a dream to build seven waka taua for the 1940 centennial commemorations at Waitangi. In the end only two waka were commissioned but cameraman James Manley was brought in to capture it all on film. The original footage remained untouched for almost 50 years until the Film Archive got permission to repair and preserve them. Mana Waka is to screen at the New Zealand International Film Festival, which opens this week.