Poi E

  • Screening Dates: 6th July, 8pm
  • Starring: Dalvanius Prime, Patea Maori Club, Ngoingoi Pewhairangi, Taika Waititi
  • Directed by: Teareepa Kahi
  • Running time: 96 mins
  • Rating: G
  • Language: te reo Maori, English
Synopsis:

DOCUMENTARY:  Poi E is screened as part of the MATARIKI Festival 
The WFS is proud to be associated with the 2017 Matariki  Festival by screening the most joyful rendition of our national anthem – the one you can dance to. As irresistible as the song it celebrates, Tearepa Kahi’s documentary explores the many tributaries that flowed into the mash-up of pop music, traditional waiata and bop that first took New Zealand by storm in 1984.

Dalvanius Prime,  was at this time, a man on a mission, chihuahuas under each arm,  who pulled together a diverse and talented bunch of collaborators to record the song and crowdfund a brilliant music video that, amongst other things, captured the vitality and pride of his hometown facing hard times.

The film, told largely in Dalvanius’ own words, is brimful of music and frank and funny testimony from numerous participants in the song’s richly peopled history. Taking a lesson from the man himself, Kahi draws the next generation into the story, ably assisted by Taika Waititi, who provides Stan Walker, aged 25, with essential information about what life was like before ‘Poi E’.