Entertainment
Whakaata Māori and APTN partner on Indigenous sci-fi comedy series
The co-production 'Māui & Elvis' connects New Zealand and Canadian creators for a 2027 children's broadcast.
The short version
- New Zealand's Whakaata Māori and Canada's APTN announced an international co-production partnership for the children's sci-fi comedy series 'Māui & Elvis'.
- The project features Māori and Métis characters, with at least 30% of dialogue in te reo Māori.
- Filming is scheduled to begin in November 2026, aiming for a premiere in 2027.
Key facts
- The international co-production deal between Whakaata Māori and APTN was revealed at the World Indigenous Broadcasters Network Conference in Sápmi, Norway.[Variety]
- 'Māui & Elvis' is produced by New Zealand's Whitebait Media and Canada's Mosaic Entertainment, with Blue Ant International handling distribution.[Variety]
- The storyline focuses on a Māori character and a Métis character attempting to rescue a grandmother from an alien entity.[Variety]
- At least 30% of the series dialogue will be in te reo Māori, and the show is set primarily on New Zealand's South Island with additional scenes in Vancouver.[Variety]
- Production is scheduled to begin in November 2026, targeting a 2027 broadcast release.[Variety]
What remains uncertain
- Specific premiere dates in 2027 and final cast selections have not yet been announced.[Variety]