It was made for Whanganui Iwi - has been seen throughout New Zealand - and its return will be celebrated next Wednesday.
The free screening of Te Awa Tupua, a documentary about the Whanganui Iwi relationship with their river, happens at Embassy 3 Cinemas on Wednesday night. The occasion starts with canapes made by Whanganui UCOL tutor Damian Peeti, who is from Parikino, and his students, served with alcohol-free punch. The refreshments start at 5.15pm and the film at 6.
There were 240 tickets available, but all have now been given out. Fifty were reserved for kaumatua (elders).
Te Awa Tupua - Voices of the River is a 67-minute documentary about local tribes' relationship with the Whanganui River and their struggle to have that recognised. It was made by Paora Joseph, who has links to Putiki and Kaiwhaiki and will be at the screening.
He was asked to film the tribes' four-day Raukotahi summit in February-March last year. He realised there was a bigger story and added stills and footage about the legal struggle for the river and the 1995 occupation of Pakaitore/Moutoa Gardens.