Tūrangawaewae - “A Place To Stand”
A young Māori Bullrider (Chris Hirst) from Ruakākā in the Northland of New Zealand, finds himself living in the Blackdown Hills in Devon. Far from home yet he’s found a home. Negotiating his own relationship with his Māori heritage whilst being so far from Aotearoa. He has yet again found solace in his relationship with horses. Divorced from many of touchstones of his heritage, but like many young Māori growing up in rural New Zealand; horses or ‘hōiho’, are a central part of life. This stands true for Chris who finds an anchor in the unspoken connection between himself and horses, allowing him to quietly explore his own identity so far from the land which has shaped him.
- words by @poppyhopcraft
Ko Aotea te waka
Ko Turi te tangata ki runga
Ko Taranaki te maunga
Ko Wainongaro te awa
Ko Ngati Ruanui te iwi!
Aotea is the canoe
Turi is the ancestor
Taranaki is the mountain
Waingongoro is the river
Ngati Ruanui is the tribe
Director @olivegilson_@mogil.productions
DOP @billygadd
stylist/ creative @tillyhopcraft
Sound @maxjagilson@mogil.productions
Editor @olivegilson_
The man himself chrisxhirst
Thank you to @emilsumovskij for his wonderful pieces
And @33mmofficial for supplying basics
