A Kura Productions
Kura Productions Ltd was established by Quinton Hita with support from South Pacific Pictures in 2004 – with the express purpose of creating and celebrating Māori content for television, film and digital spaces.
In 2021, Quinton left the company in the hands of Te Ataraiti Waretini and is now in a joint venture between Te Ataraiti Waretini and South Pacific Pictures.
Ataraiti manages Kura and determines its scope and direction. South Pacific Pictures (SPP) contributes development funding, financial and legal advice, and training.
Ataraiti and SPP deeply believe in Māori story-telling on screen and are supportive of reflecting this off-screen as well. Both partners are working together towards a long term goal of Ataraiti eventually becoming the majority owner of Kura Productions Ltd.
Quinton Hita
Consultant & Reo Adviser
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Taranaki
Consultant & Reo Advisor of Kura Productions, Quinton Hita, has produced over 700 hours of Māori content over two decades. He has an impressive body of work that includes feature films Mt Zion and Maui’s Hook, kids TV Pūkoro and Huritua, documentary, Kōwhao Rau sketch comedy, Only in Aotearoa and drama, Ahikāroa. He is the creator of Māori in a Minute, a nationally acknowledged te reo Māori expert and winner of the 2020 Matariki award for contribution to the revitalisation of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori in New Zealand.
Within Kura Productions, Quinton has been instrumental in nurturing young Māori talent and developing skilled Maōri crew. He is passionate about keeping Te Reo alive and produces content which embodies this kaupapa.
TE ATARAITI WARETINI
CEO
Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wāhiao, Tainui, Te Rarawa
Te Ataraiti Waretini has led Kura Productions as CEO since taking over ownership from Quinton Hita in 2021. Continuing the joint venture with South Pacific Pictures, she has nearly two decades of screen industry experience in Aotearoa and internationally and believes in the importance of te reo Māori in front of and behind the camera to deliver evocative Māori content.
Kura Productions continues to be a champion for te reo Māori for local and international audiences. The company has delivered a range of shows including seven seasons of bilingual youth drama Ahikāroa, unscripted children’s show, TeNgz, and Te Tai Tokerau panel show Nā wai i Teka?, as well as Māori language learning show Tōku Reo, kids show Pūkoro, films Mt Zion and Māui’s Hook and much more.
Te Ataraiti is enthusiastic about the Māori broadcast industry in Aotearoa and passionate about creating more impactful Māori shows for audiences here and abroad. Whiua ki te ao!
TUATAROA RAPANA-NEILL
Managing Director
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ueoneone
Tuataroa is an experienced Māori filmmaker whose career spans 20 years across Aotearoa, England and Japan. With a background in editing, writing and directing, he brings a global perspective and deep cultural grounding to his leadership role at Kura Productions.
Now based back home in Aotearoa, Tuataroa is committed to advancing kaupapa Māori storytelling. As Managing Director of Kura Productions, he is focused on growing the company’s international reach while continuing to produce powerful, authentic Māori content for local audiences.
His return to Kura at the end of 2024 - where he began his career alongside CEO Te Ataraiti Waretini - marks a renewed dedication to creating innovative, reo Māori content like Te Ngz, that centres tamariki and reflects the everyday realities of Māori life through a regional lens.
South Pacific Pictures
Hoa
South Pacific Pictures is New Zealand’s largest screen production company and has an international reputation for producing world-class television and film. The company is in its 36th year of operation and to date has produced more than 6000+ hours of programming. Drama series and serials, feature films, and entertainment, reality programming and documentaries are all part of the programming mix. The current slate includes work for New Zealand, Australian, Canadian and UK broadcasters.
Kura Productions is a partnership between Te Ataraiti Waretini and South Pacific Pictures and offers a range of programming to broadcasters in New Zealand.