Actor recalls role in first colour film

FOND MEMORIES: Val Irwin, of Napier, with a poster from the filmTo LoveaMaori, which he starred in as a teenager.

Napier's Val Irwin is delighted the movie he acted in as a teenager will screen at MTG Hawke's Bay tomorrow.

Mr Irwin, now a pensioner living in Taradale, Napier, was alerted to the screening of To Love A Maori, in which he had a lead role when he was 19, by a friend on Facebook.

The film, released in the early 1970s, was made by renowned award-winning director Rudall Hayward, a film pioneer who had by then already been involved in the industry for 50 years. It was to be the last movie made by Mr Hayward, who fell ill and died while on a nationwide tour to promote the feature length film, the first to be shot in colour in New Zealand.

Mr Hayward, best known for Rewi's Last Stand, directed and produced the movie with his wife Ramai, who was a well known photographer, film-maker, camera woman, script writer, singer and poet in her own right.

It is the first screening of the film since Mrs Hayward passed away earlier this year.

Mr Irwin grew up in Wairoa until the early 1960s when his family moved to Auckland. Mr Hayward picked him for the role as he had heard Mr Irwin had done some drama work at training college. Mr Irwin also had the look he was after, having done some modelling work.

Mr Irwin, then a teacher trainee, played Tama, a young Maori man who moved from the country to Auckland, falling in love with Penny, played by Marie Searell, an 18-year-old drama student.

Filming took place in several locations, including Auckland and Te Kaha.

"It was an absolute privilege to work with both of them. They were true icons and filming was so much fun," Mr Irwin said.

"Some things did take a bit of getting used to - being asked to do a kissing scene with Ms Searell when he'd only known her three days was a bit of a shock," he said.

The deputy principal of the then Auckland Technical Institute had suggested to Mr Hayward that he look at making a documentary about the social issues of the time.

Mr Hayward turned this idea into a love story with a difference, touching on the urban drift of young Maori from the country to the city to look for work, racial discrimination and class snobbery.

After his acting experience, Mr Irwin spent three decades as a teacher before an accident in 2006 helped force his retirement. Currently studying for a Masters in Sports and Leisure, he occasionally is inspired to do wood carving and sketching, and spends much of his time volunteering, including at the Mokonui community garden, launched by Tu Tangata Maraenui Trust earlier this year.The 3.30pm screening, courtesy of Nga Taonga Sound & Vision - the New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound, will be introduced by Diane Pivac from Nga Taonga. Mr Irwin will be attending the screening with some of his family members.

Tickets cost $5. Depending on demand, MTG will consider a second screening.