As part of this year’s Matariki 2025 celebrations, the New Zealand High Commission will present a special series of locally made short films to junior students at Tereora College tomorrow Thursday, June 19.

The screening forms part of the schools’ Matariki programme themed “A Time to Reflect, Reconnect, and Look to the Stars.”

The film collection showcases the creative talents of Cook Islands youth, featuring stories with several of the short films written, directed, and performed by young locals, including the acclaimed animated short Ta’i by Astarli Taokia and her late father Mii Taokia.

Film producer Glenda Tuaine says the Matariki film programme offers an opportunity to celebrate Cook Islands storytellers and their ability to reflect identity through film and to celebrate creative collaboration between the Cook Islands and Aotearoa New Zealand .

“This is another way to look at the stars - our young Cook Islands storytellers,” she says.

“The fact is that we have great young storytellers and great young ideas. All of these stories were imagined, developed, and produced by and with Cook Islanders. They are made with us, by us, for us.”

Many of the short films emerged from the Through Our Lens programme (2018–2019), a collaboration supported by the New Zealand High Commission and delivered in partnership with UNESCO, Motone Productions, The Maoriland Film Trust and local youth.

The initiative also welcomed visiting Māori filmmakers who worked alongside Cook Islands students to craft original screen stories.

“This is about sharing skills and growing future stars. These films show our youth that animation and filmmaking are very much possible here and that we are very skilled. It’s also about owning and telling our stories,” says Tuaine.

Tuaine praised the support of the New Zealand High Commission team, noting their commitment to supporting Cook Islanders through creative storytelling.

“With Matariki being a time for reflection and new beginnings, it’s fitting to showcase our future stars. And as the stars rise, we hope to see even more of our stars rise with them.”

Short films to be screened include:

• “Kia Orana” (Nga Puhi Films, 2014): A light-hearted tale about finding something mysterious on the beach - a ukulele - with unexpected consequences.
• “Paper Rock Scissors, Miracle” (Maoriland & Motone): A comedy about trying to beat the island champion at rock-paper-scissors—until a miracle falls from the sky.
• “Islands Fu” (Maoriland & Motone): A young girl, bullied by peers, finds an unlikely teacher to help her defend herself.
• “Footsteps” (Lenny Hill, 2014): A beautifully told story of Tapuaetai—One Foot Island.
• “The Hunt”: Two students discover a mysterious map in the school library and go on a treasure hunt through Aitutaki.

“Tai” (Astarli and Mii Taokia, 2023): Set in the distant future, a Cook Islands superhero rises to save the universe - highlighting local talent in animation.