HŌHEPA – TE ARAWA, TŪHOE
PRODUCER
Hōhepa is dedicated to authentic Māori storytelling. His film and media dream is for Māori to tell our own stories in a way that is genuine to our culture and language while adding positive depth to the overall image of how Māori are portrayed onscreen.
Hōhepa is a master in Māori Astronomy, completing a Master of Arts Degree in 2015. He is Professor Rangi Matamua’s astronomical understudy and shares his great passion of reclaiming and restoring our traditional knowledge systems in a contemporary way.
Hōhepa is also a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo, trained under the tutelage of Te Wharehuia Milroy, Pou Tēmara and Tīmoti Karetū.
Hōhepa and his wife Kristin are the creators, managing directors and producers of Long White Cloud.
KRISTIN – NGĀTI KAHU, NGĀTI TARA
PRODUCER
Much like her husband Hōhepa, Kristin is passionate about uplifting and positive representation of Māori on screen. She is also dedicated to ensuring Māori are the owners, creators, and key creatives on all Māori story.
"For too long now non-Māori have owned, told, and controlled Māori story and representation in the film and television industry. We are taking that power back” says Kristin.
Kristin holds a Master of Arts Degree with research in children’s animation programming and is a proud graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo where she was trained by Te Wharehuia Milroy, Tīmoti Karetu and Pou Tēmara.
As well as producing alongside her husband, Kristin is the Māori language expert and consultant across all of Long White Cloud’s productions.
RANGI – NGĀI TŪHOE
consultant
Specialising in Māori custom, Māori cosmology and Māori Astronomy, Professor Matamua is Long White Cloud’s cultural expert and consultant. After a long standing and stellar academic career, he is now leading the Matariki Committee as Chair under Prime Minister Jacinder Ardern to make Matariki a National Holiday in Aotearoa.
As a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo and a trained tohunga of Te Mata Punenga, Professor Matamua brings a breadth of cultural knowledge and depth to Long White Cloud’s library of content.
STEVIE RAYE –
NGĀTI KAHU, NGĀTI TARA
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Stevie Raye completed her Bachelor of Business double majoring in Marketing and
Sustainable Enterprise at AUT in 2017. After graduating Stevie Raye travelled extensively which only galvanised her need to reconnect with home. In her Production Coordinator role at Long White Cloud Stevie Raye, has been able to immerse herself in an environment that honours her personal journey. She loves being in an environment that nurtures both her creative abilities and wairua. Stevie Raye has been inspired to begin her Māori language journey by enrolling in night classes. She has found a passion in Māori storytelling during her time at Long White Cloud.
TIRI – TE ARAWA, TAINUI, NGĀI TAHU
COMPANY ACCOUNTANT
Irihapeti (Tiri) Morgan was born and raised in Bluff and is of Ngāi Tahu, Te Arawa and Tainui descent. Tiri has an Accounting background and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience having worked with various Māori and Commercial entities over the past 20 years including Deloitte Rotorua and Glen Hawkins & Associates.
Tiri has a passion for Māori in business and sees this opportunity to not only help grow the business but to also continue her own journey in Te Reo Māori, having completed a full year of total immersion.
TONIA – TAKITUMU RAROTONGA, SCOTTISH, SWEEDISH
LEGAL COUNSEL
Tonia has extensive experience in intellectual property rights dealing with trademarks, brand availability, prosecution, licensing, copyright and more. Tonia's legal career has seen her working internationally and in New Zealand advising clients on their commercial and intellectual property matters.
Tonia has experience working in a number of sectors, but has a particular interest in entertainment & media and the Indigenous Rights of Māori and Pacific People. Having grown up in her homeland of Rarotonga, Tonia understands the importance of the indigenous voice in the legal sector and has assisted a number of Māori trusts in a pro-bono capacity over her career.