Moana 2: A Step Forward for Te Reo Māori

The release of Moana 2 has sparked excitement among fans of the original film, as well as those who have been advocating for the promotion of te reo Māori. The simultaneous premiere of both the English and te reo versions of the movie presents a unique opportunity for young tamariki Māori to hear their language being spoken in a context that feels familiar.

The Power of Simultaneous Premiere

This is indeed the greatest strength of Moana 2. By releasing the film in both languages, Disney has given audiences the chance to experience their favorite characters and storylines in te reo Māori from the very beginning. For many tamariki who are learning te reo as a second language at home or in school, this is an invaluable resource that will help them become more confident in their language skills.

Jaedyn Randell, lead voice actor for Moana, highlighted the significance of this move during the film’s premiere. “That’s all they’ll ever know, and I think that’s really exciting,” she said. Rutene Spooner, who voices the new character Kele, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This could be the first and only version of Moana my daughter sees. She doesn’t have to see the English version and then see the translation.”

A Disjointed Narrative

While the simultaneous premiere is a significant strength of Moana 2, the film itself is not without its flaws. The movie feels a little disjointed, perhaps due to its origins as a Disney+ series. The villains, or nanakia in Māori terms, don’t really do anything, which detracts from the overall impact of the story.

However, Moana and Maui still have some fantastic moments, such as when Moana busts out an impromptu haka and twists her paddle about her body like a taiaha. Randell and Piripi Taylor have excellent chemistry as the two leads, and the supporting cast injects a lot of fun into the film.

A New Era for Te Reo Māori Films

One of the most significant achievements of Moana 2 is its role in promoting te reo Māori. For years, there has been a growing movement to revive and promote this language, which was once considered endangered. The release of Moana 2 marks a new era for te reo films, with Matewa Media already adapting five other Disney films into te reo.

The journey began back in 2017 when the original Moana was adapted into te reo Māori. Since then, Matewa has been working tirelessly to bring these stories to life in their own language. As Tweedie Waititi, director and producer of Moana 2, put it, “We want [tamariki] to whakamāori the world. If it’s not in Māori, then translate it. If it’s not in Māori, reimagine it.”

Conclusion

Moana 2 is far from a perfect movie, but its simultaneous premiere in both English and te reo Māori makes it a significant step forward for the language and culture of New Zealand. With its unique blend of adventure, music, and language, this film has the potential to inspire a new generation of tamariki Māori and their whānau. As we move forward into this new era for te reo films, one thing is clear: Moana 2 is just the beginning.