A historical surf film that was partly shot in Raglan is premiering at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre on Saturday 15 March and Sunday 16 March at 7.30pm.
AI. Tearoa explores the inaugural Vodafone Surf Sessions in 2005, where international superstars of the waves Andy Irons, Mark Occhilupo, Sunny Garcia and Joel Parkinson took on Kiwi surf legends Maz Quinn, Morehu Roberts, Bobby Hansen and Daniel (DK) Kereopa.
Although the actual competition was hosted at Piha, the film starts with the surfers taking part in a powhiri (welcome ceremony) at Poihaakena Marae the day before the event. Director Redeye says the film captures the spirit of the powhiri and the Whāingaroa mana whenua who opened their arms to the surfers, in an eye-opening and sound moving experience for the international contingent. “Sunny Garcia and Andy Irons were absolutely blown away by what they experienced at Poihaakena Marae. You can see it on their faces – it was spine tingling.”
In the making of AI. Tearoa, Redeye has set out to beautifully capture the excitement of the event, the personas of the different characters and the whanaungatanga (relationships and kinship) of Raglan, Whāingaroa.
Film screens Saturday, March 15 and the red-carpet premiere on Sunday, March 16 at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre. Limited seats, bookings online at www.raglanartscentre.co.nz.
